The Moravian College women's basketball team fell to Landmark Conference foe The Catholic University of America, 70-62. The Greyhounds were led by sophomore guard Katie O'Rourke, who tied her career-high in points scored with 18 to go with her five rebounds and three steals.
Moravian started the contest on a 5-0 run with points scored by O'Rourke, junior guard Amanda Kreuder and senior forward Alexandra Blair. The Cardinals would respond with a three-pointer from junior forward Kelli Josephsen, but O'Rourke would answer right back with a three of her own to make the score 8-3 just three minutes in.
Catholic would then go on a 10-0 run led by senior guard Holly Janicki and sophomore guard Emily Grabiak. After two straight layups from freshman forward Alexis Wright, the Greyhounds would cut the lead to one at 12-13 with just under 13 minutes remaining in the half. The Cardinals would go up 18-14, but after a jumper from O'Rourke and a layup from Wright, Moravian would tie the game back up at 18 with 9:19 remaining in the half.
Kreuder would put the Greyhounds back on top at 20-18 with 7:48 left in the first half. After a three from Janicki, Catholic would retake the lead at 23-22 with four minutes remaining in the half. The two teams would exchange baskets the rest of the half, and the Cardinals would take a 29-26 lead into the locker room.
Moravian shot 34.4 percent from the field while Catholic shot 27.9 percent from the field in the first half. Alexandra Blair led the Greyhounds in the first half with ten boards and six points while Janicki led the Cardinals with 12 points and the rebounds at halftime.
O'Rourke would cut Catholic's lead to one with a layup to start the second half. Grabiak answered right back with a three-pointer to take a 32-28 lead just one minute into the second half. After a basket from junior guard Jill Woerner, Kreuder would hit a jumper from the corner. Wright and O'Rourke would make layups on the next two possessions to tie the game at 34 two minutes into the half.
Grabiak would hit a three at the 16 minute mark to give the Cardinals at 39-36 lead. Alexandra Blair would come right back with a layup to make it 39-38, but Grabiak nailed another three while pushing their lead to 42-38. Janicki would follow that up with another three as Catholic went up 45-38 with 14:30 remaining in the contest.
Senior guard Hilary Murray would end the Greyhounds scoreless drought with a three at the 13 minute mark to make the score 47-41. Sophomore forward Laura Jordan would follow that up with a jumper, and the O'Rourke with a three-pointer to make the score 48-46 with just under 12 minutes to go.
After a layup from sophomore forward Erika Blair, Moravian would only be down by one at 49-48 with 11:40 left in the game. Catholic would answer with a three, but Erika Blair came right back with another layup to cut Catholic's lead to two points. The Cardinals would then go on an 8-0 run to take a 60-50 lead. The Greyhounds would then go on a 6-0 run with points from Jordan, O'Rourke and Murray as the lead was cut to 60-56 with 4:28 remaining.
With baskets from Grabiak and Woerner, Catholic would go back up by eight points with 3:20 left in the contest. Alexandra Blair would make two straight layups to make the score 66-62 with 1:08 to go. That would be all the Greyhounds had left as they would go onto lose 70-62.
Alexandra Blair recorded her 11th career double-double off of 14 points and 14 rebounds, and she had seven blocks. Wright put up 12 points and six boards while Murray had seven points, seven assists and four rebounds.
Leading the way for Catholic was Grabiak with 18 points and eight rebounds while Janicki had 15 points and four boards. Josephsen had ten points and five rebounds while sophomore forward Liz Briones had eight points and six rebounds.
Moravian shot 39.1 percent from the field while Catholic shot 33.3 percent from the field in the contest. The Cardinals held the edge in rebounds with 58 over the Greyhounds 45.
The Greyhounds are back in action tomorrow as they host conference rival Goucher College at 4 p.m. at Johnston Hall.
