Greyhounds Earn Tournament Title

BETHLEHEM, Pa. - Moravian captured the championship of the 7th Annual Starters Moravian Winter Classic with a 77-54 victory over Albright College in Johnston Hall. The win was the seventh straight for the Greyhounds, and their fourth title in the history of the tournament.

The last time Moravian won seven straight games was the beginning of the 2005-06 season.

Greyhound sophomore guard Kate Harrison was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player while sophomore forwards Alyssa Bisci and Kirsty Stearns of Moravian were named to the All-Tournament Team along with Jessica McGinness of Albright College, Vanessa Arthurton from SUNY Plattsburgh and Kim Vennera of Delaware Valley College.

SUNY Plattsburgh defeated Delaware Valley, 69-66, in the consolation game.

In the title contest, the Greyhounds jumped out to a 6-0 lead in just 1:25; however, Albright put together an 8-2 run to tie the contest at 8-8 with 14:55 left in the first half. The Lions would lead by three points twice, the final time at 13-10 to play in the first 20 minutes, and the contest was tied at 19-19 with 8:24 before halftime. Moravian would finish the first half on a 15-6 run to head to the locker room with a 34-25 lead.

The Greyhounds were 12 of 32 (37.5 percent) from the floor in the first half, two of six behind three-point line and eight of 11 at the foul line, and Moravian had a 22-18 edge in rebounds. The Greyhounds also committed just nine turnovers in the first 20 minutes while forcing Albright into 14 turnovers. The Lions made 11 of 29 first half field goals and three of four free throws.

Moravian started the second half with a 13-1 run to build a 47-26 lead with 13:47 remaining in the game. The Greyhound lead would reach 29 points at 67-38 with 6:13 left in the contest.

Moravian shot the ball very well in the second half, connecting on 17 of 29 field goal attempts (58.6 percent), two of three three-pointers and seven of 12 free throws. Moravian had a 38-34 edge in rebounds during the game and had just 16 turnovers while forcing the Lions into 26 turnovers. Albright was 12 of 28 from the field, two of six behind the three-point line and three of four at the foul line in the final 20 minutes.

The Greyhounds used a balanced scoring attack with four players in double figures. Stearns, sophomore guard Amanda Brown and freshman guard/forward Emily Smith each netted 13 points for Moravian with Stearns adding six rebounds, three steals and two blocked shots. Smith had three assists, three rebounds and a pair of steals in the win. Sophomore guard Jessica Foran had 11 points in the Greyhound victory while Harrison added seven points, four rebounds and three assists. Sophomore forward Lauren Fornazro contributed six points and a pair of boards while senior guard LaToya Blake had five rebounds and four points. Bisci grabbed a team high seven rebounds to go with two points and a pair of assists for Moravian. Freshman forward Amie Ballo contributed six rebounds and added three points while senior guard Megan Kocon tossed in three points and added a pair of assists for the Greyhounds.

McGinness led Albright with 16 points while sophomore guard/forward Mallory Olsheski had 12 points and four rebounds. Senior center Staci Waligorski had a team high eight rebounds for the Lions to go with eight points and a pair of blocked shots. Freshman forward Chelsea McTigue added eight points and five rebounds for Albright.