BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Seniors Cameron Cullen and Laura Jordan of the Moravian College basketball teams have been named to the Lehigh Valley Small College Basketball Scholar-Athlete Team at the organization's second luncheon of the 2013-14 season at Starters Pub in Bethlehem on Thursday afternoon.
The Lehigh Valley Small College Basketball Organization is made up of the seven small college schools in the Lehigh Valley including NCAA Division II schools East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania and Kutztown University of Pennsylvania and NCAA Division III schools Cedar Crest College, Delaware Valley College, DeSales University, Moravian College and Muhlenberg College.
Cullen, a center and co-captain for the Greyhounds, has helped the Moravian men open the year with an 8-8 overall record and a 3-3 mark in Landmark Conference action. Cullen was named the Most Valuable Player at the 36th Annual Roosevelt's Greyhound Classic after dropping 18 points and grabbing 10 rebounds in the Hounds' championship victory. Since the turn of the New Year, Cullen has averaged 15.7 points per game, the highest of any Greyhound during that seven-game stretch.
"We have three luncheons during a season, and to me, this one is the most important," said head men's basketball coach Jim Walker. "I wish I can take credit for Cam's academic success, but it's his family that values education so greatly. He's been a three-year starter, a captain and a very determined student in the classroom. I know he'll have success with anything he decides to pursue in the future."
For the season, the senior big man has 11.2 points per game, a team-high 7.1 rebounds per game and four double-doubles to go with 20 assists, 14 steals and 10 blocks. Cullen has maintained a 3.02 GPA while majoring in biology at Moravian.
Joining Cullen on the Scholar-Athlete Team were Nick Melosky of Muhlenberg, Matt Poorman of DeSales, Jay Donovan of Delaware Valley, Matt Tobin of East Stroudsburg and Ryan Connolly of Kutztown.
Jordan, a forward, has been an integral part to the Greyhounds' 13-3 start to the season, including a 4-1 mark in the Landmark Conference. At 2.44 blocks per game, Jordan leads the Greyhounds' defense, which currently ranks first in NCAA Division III at 8.2 blocked shots per contest. The senior forward has also had a hand in allowing a .335 shooting percentage by Moravian opponents, a mark that ranks 26th in the nation.
"Laura is a great example of a Division III scholar-athlete," said head women's basketball coach Mary Beth Spirk. "Not only is she great on the basketball court and a perfect role model for our younger players, but she's also going to be a terrific teacher someday. If we are doing community service, she's always one of the first to be there. She's going to be successful, and hopefully she has a few more good games in her."
Jordan is averaging 7.2 points per game and 5.3 rebounds per game to go with her team-high 39 blocks and 23 assists. Her 39 blocks lead the Landmark Conference. Jordan is majoring in psychology and early childhood education at Moravian while earning a 3.74 GPA.
Tying in with the theme of basketball and scholarly pursuits, Jordan was asked to give her squad a letter grade at this point in the 2013-14 season.
"I would give us between a B+ and an A-," Jordan said. "We're playing pretty well at 13-3 right now, but there are things that we need to work on. I think that by the end of the season we'll be able to bump that grade up to an A."
Joining Jordan on the Scholar-Athlete Team were Erin Laney of Muhlenberg, Julia Duffy of DeSales, Agatha Drozd of Delaware Valley, Jessica Martin of East Stroudsburg, Jenna Altomare of Kutztown and Breonna Lewis of Cedar Crest.
The next Lehigh Valley Small College Basketball Luncheon is scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 18 at Starters Pub, where the LVSCB 2014 Team and Player of the Year awards will be announced.
