ARLINGTON, Va. – It was a thrilling opening round in the Third Annual Pablo Coto Tip-Off Tournament for the Marymount (Va.) University women's basketball team, using a 19-6 fourth quarter to overtake Brooklyn College, 47-40, to advance to Saturday's championship game for the second-consecutive year. 

Trailing by eight points in the early part of the fourth quarter, 36-28, following a Bulldog (1-2) layup, the Saints (3-0) rallied with an 11-2 run to reclaim the lead with just 3:18 remaining in the game. To that point in the game, there were four ties and six lead changes, but that was the last swaying of the advantage. 

The battle to retake the lead was kicked off by senior Kievanna Lacey, slicing the lane for a layup and following up with a free throw almost a minute later. The deficit quickly disappeared after junior Kiki Laux dropped in a jumper, Lacey hit two more free throws and sophomore Nicole Viscuso added a layup, getting the Saints within one, 38-37. 

Two minutes later at the 3:18 mark, Laux received a pass from sophomore Leah Hurst for the open jumper on the left baseline to give MU the advantage that wouldn't be faltered for the remainder of the game. Although the Bulldogs got within one with 56 seconds left on the clock, Laux kept the crowd entertained with her lone three-pointer of the game from the right wing to put Brooklyn away. 

Trailing 34-28 entering the fourth quarter, the Saints used a 19-6 final 10 minutes to seal up the 47-40 victory. 

Three Saints collected double digit games on the scoring end, seeing Lacey lead the squad with a game-high 13 points. The senior guard has earned game-high honors in points through all three games so far this season, as she sits just 13 points away from the 1,000-point mark in her career. Viscuso and Laux also reached double figures with 12 apiece, while Viscuso completed her second double-double of her career with 11 for the game. The sophomore has registered double-figure points in all three games this season. 

With the victory, the women advance to Saturday's championship game against Messiah College, who defeated Averett University in the first game on the night, 69-47. The game is slated to begin at 7:30 p.m., in the Verizon Sports Arena.