Moravian Returns To Winning Ways

SELINSGROVE, PA - The Moravian College women's basketball team snapped a two-game losing streak with an 83-74 victory over Susquehanna University in Landmark Conference action Saturday afternoon.

The host Crusaders jumped out to a 4-0 lead before a seven-point Moravian run capped off by a three-pointer by freshman guard/forward Emily Smith (East Stroudsburg, PA/East Stroudsburg South HS) at the 15:21 mark for a 7-4 Greyhound lead. After Susquehanna scored five straight for a 9-7 lead, Smith hit a lay-up to tie the game again at 9-9 with 13:30 remaining in the first half.

The contest was tied twice again at 11-11 and 13-13 before Moravian took the lead for good on a three-pointer by sophomore guard Amanda Brown (Schuylkill Haven, PA/Schuylkill Haven HS) at the 10:12 mark. Brown's three-pointer started a 10-0 Greyhound run to give Moravian a 23-13 lead with 8:21 before the intermission. The Greyhounds would hold a 14-point lead, 33-19, on a lay-up by sophomore forward Lauren Fornazor (Rivervale, PA/Pascack Valley HS) at 4:15 remaining in the first half before heading to the locker room with a 40-31 advantage.

Moravian was 16 of 35 (45.7 percent) from the floor, two of seven on three-pointers and six of eight free throws, and the Greyhounds committed just five turnovers in the first 20 minutes while forcing Susquehanna into 13 turnovers. The Crusaders were 13 of 30 from the floor, two of eight behind the three-point arc and three of six at the foul line in the first half while holding a 22-17 advantage in rebounds.

To start the second half, Moravian quickly pushed its lead back to double digits and kept it there until Susquehanna cut the lead back to nine points at 53-44 with 13:04 remaining in the contest on a lay-up by Val Houseal. The Greyhounds put the lead right back into double figures and led by 19 points, 64-45, with 9:50 remaining on a three-point play by senior guard LaToya Blake (Allentown, PA/Dieruff HS).

The Crusaders pulled within three points, 70-67, with 2:08 to play on a jumper by Samantha Jasson; however, Moravian finished the game with a 13-7 run for the victory. The Greyhounds were a perfect 10-for-10 at the foul line in the final 1:10 including eight from sophomore guard Jessica Foran (Annandale, NJ/Rutgers Prep HS).

Moravian was nine for 22 (40.9 percent) from the field in the second half and 25 of 29 at the foul line. The Greyhounds missed both of their second half three-point attempts while committing just 12 turnovers for the game. Susquehanna was 16 of 35 for the field, four of 12 on three-pointers and seven of nine at the foul line in the final 20 minutes. The Crusaders had a 39-35 edge in rebounds for the game and 19 turnovers.

Foran led a trio of Greyhounds in double figures with a career high 30 points, including 16 of 17 at the foul line. Foran also had three steals and a pair of rebounds. Blake tied her career high with 11 points to go with five rebounds, five steals and three assists while sophomore forward Alyssa Bisci (Easton, PA/Easton HS) contributed ten points.

Brown had nine points with four rebounds and three steals for Moravian while Fornazor added eight points and a team high six rebounds. Smith tossed in seven points and grabbed four rebounds while freshman forward Amie Ballo (Andes, NY/Andes Central HS) had four points for the Greyhounds. Sophomore forward Kirsty Stearns (East Norwich, NY/Oyster Bay HS) had five rebounds for Moravian despite being held scoreless for the first time in her collegiate career.

Nikki Schneck led Susquehanna with 15 points, three rebounds and three assists while Courtney Thibeault has 12 points and four boards. Leigh Henderson and Jasson each had nine points for the Crusaders while Erika Barron had eight points and a game high nine assists. Houseal has six points and five rebounds for Susquehanna while Ruth Williamson had six points and six rebounds off the bench.