Dunmore graduate Gianna Delfino sparked the defense and shared the team rebounding lead while Mid Valley graduate Morgan Haefele was the team assist leader Tuesday night when Misericordia University opened the women’s basketball season with a 63-36 rout at Lebanon Valley.
Valley View graduate Skylar Bianchi and Abington Heights graduate Rachel McDonald, both freshmen, both made their college debuts in the game and scored while coming off the bench.
All four are products of the AAU basketball programs at Riverfront Sports in Scranton.
Bianchi and McDonald played on NEPA Elite teams a year ago.
Haefele, who served as an assistant coach with the Hoop Group Showcase League champion NEPA Elite 17U Clark team this summer, and Delfino each came through the JB Hoops AAU team.
Delfino and Haefele shared the steals lead. Delfino was the only Cougar with 2 blocks and also had 6 points and 8 rebounds in 22 minutes. Haefele joined her in the starting lineup and had 5 rebounds, 3 assists and a blocked shot in 23 minutes.
Delfino is a 5-foot-11 junior forward/guard. She led in steals and blocked shots during the COVID-abbreviated 2020-21 season when Misericordia went 5-4.
Haefele is a 5-4 junior guard.
Bianchi had two points and four rebounds in seven minutes.
McDonald had two points and a rebound in six minutes.
Misericordia outscored Lebanon Valley, 16-4, in the second quarter for a 29-12 halftime lead. The Cougars used 17 players in the game.
Dunmore graduate Mariah Maciejewski has joined Jason Rhine’s coaching staff after two years at Marywood University.
Misericordia is at the Drew Tournament in Madison, N.J. Friday and Saturday. The Cougars play SUNY Cortland Friday at 8 in the first round.
