The Misericordia University women's basketball team opened the season with a 61-56 win over Lebanon Valley, Tuesday night on Doc Mould Court.

Alyssa Bondi led the Cougars with 18 points and Gianna Delfino added 16 points, 11 rebounds and seven blocked shots.

The Cougars took advantage of 18 LVC turnovers and converted them into 18 points and out-scored the Dutchmen in the paint, 30-14.

Lebanon Valley closed the third quarter on a 16-2 run to take a 46-41 lead, but the Cougars responded with a 20-10 fourth quarter.

Skylar Dowling opened the fourth quarter with a three pointer from the top of the key and put the Cougars in front, 47-46, with another three from the same spot with 7:29 to play.

Down 50-49, Dowling drove the left baseline and found Jocelyn Grosch on the left block to put the Cougars in front for good, 51-50, with 6:05 remaining.

Delfino made a short jumper in the lane to make it 53-50.  She added a free throw and converted a fast break layup from Morgan Haefele to give MU a 56-50 lead with 3:58 to go.

Neither team scored for the next two minutes until Bondi and Melina Santacroce combined for three free throws as the Cougars capped a 10-0 run to take a 59-50 lead with  less than a minute remaining.

The MU defense was solid in the early going as the Dutchmen went deep in the shot clock in the opening minutes.

Delfino's bucket on the left block gave the Cougars a 10-5 lead and she ended the period with a putback to give MU a 15-14 lead.

Dowling and Haefele both converted three-point plays in the second quarter and Grosch made a jumper in the lane as the Cougars took a 29-24 lead into halftime.

Delfino's step-back three-pointer gave the Cougars a 39-30 lead midway through the third quarter before Lebanon Valley rallied to close the period.

Misericordia will travel to SUNY-New Paltz, Saturday.