Hot shooting pushes Pennridge past Gwynedd Mercy in Tip-Off Tournament Final

EAST ROCKHILL >> Pennridge drained a school-record 11 3-pointers, including five off the hot hand of Emilee Cramer, and the fast-paced Rams were soon passing around a tournament-championship trophy.

“It’s incredible. We’ve never had a start this strong,” Cramer said after the Rams rolled, 73-48 over Gwynedd Mercy Academy in the 10th Annual Pennridge Memorial Classic Tip-Off Tournament Final. “I just hope it carries through to the rest of the season.”

Pennridge (2-0) hit its first 15 shots and scored 21 first-quarter points, following up its Friday semifinal win over Faith Christian with an exclamation point.

Said Cramer: “It’s a great way to start. Spirits are high.”

“We shot well and we’re starting to execute the offense,” coach Mike Elton said. “I’m proud of them.”

Cramer scored 15 points for the Rams — all threes — to finish tied for the game high with teammate Sam Muredda and the Monarchs’ Kaylie Griffin.

The two teams went back and forth in a busy first quarter before Pennridge pulled away from a 21-21 deadlock in the second and shot to a 13-point lead by the half.

“Our offense came together today,” said Cramer, a senior guard/forward. “We played great as a team and I think this is the first time it has clicked. So I’m looking forward to the rest of the season, to see how it’s gonna look.”

One of Cramer’s threes stretched the Ram lead to 31-24 in the second quarter. Ashley Gordon scored in transition and Muredda also connected from deep as the Rams were able to create some breathing room.

“Gwynedd’s got a great program. They come in and they’re prepared,” Elton said of the Monarchs (1-1), who also got nine points from Alyssa Martin and seven from Bianca Coleman. “They give you a great game. They challenged us, and I’m just really happy to see the team come together.

“That’s what we’ve been working on the last couple years, trying to get some continuity.”

In addition to the hot shooting, Pennridge’s defense clamped down in the middle quarters, helping to build a 27-point cushion by the end of the third.

Cramer hit a pair of threes in the third to push this one into the win column for Pennridge.

“It was due to some great passes. My teammates found me on the court and we moved the ball well,” Cramer said. “Honestly, it was the greatest shooting day we could have asked for.”