BETHLEHEM, Pa. – After going to the Landmark Conference Tournament and the ECAC South Tournament last year, the Moravian College women's basketball team hopes to build on its success this year.
Head Coach Mary Beth Spirk enters her 26th season on the bench with Moravian with a career record of 465-223. She will have to find a way to replace three seniors that graduated, including their top scorer, rebounder, blocker and point guard in Alexandra Blair and Hilary Murray. Coach Spirk does have 11 letter-winners returning, nine of which are upperclassmen, for the 2012-13 squad including three starters.
Leading the way will be sophomore forward Alexis Wright, who was the 2011-12 Landmark Conference Rookie of the Year, after averaging 11.2 points and 7.8 rebounds per game to go with her 49 blocks and 46 steals. She also has the highest returning field goal percentage at .412 (124-for-304). Senior guard and co-captain Amanda Kreuder returns after a break-out season that included 8.9 points and 3.0 rebounds per contest to go with her 63 assists and 37 steals.
Junior guard and co-captain Katie O'Rourke will be the new floor general for the Greyhounds after posting 73 assists to go with her 7.9 points and 5.8 rebounds per game and 53 steals. Classmate guard Danielle Brogan will likely step into the starting role after playing in all 29 games while averaging 15.4 minutes per game. Brogan lead the squad with 49 three-pointers to go with her 7.1 points per contest and 24 steals. Junior forward/center Laura Jordan averaged 17.8 minutes coming off the bench while tallying 21 blocks to go with her 5.1 points and 3.7 boards per game.
Junior guard Alyssa Hann averaged 16.6 minutes off the bench while ranking fourth on the squad with 40 steals to go with 51 assists, 101 points and 47 boards. Junior forward Ericka Blair, who only played nine games due to injuries last winter, netted 41 points, 17 rebounds and six blocks while classmate guard Laura Casey averaged 11.6 minutes to go with her 63 points, 34 rebounds and 26 assists.
Adding depth and leadership to the bench will be senior guard Katie Marakos, junior guard Sarah LaFerrara and sophomore guard Casey Bill. All three ladies saw limited action last year.
Coach Spirk brought in nine new players (one sophomore, eight freshmen) for the 2012-13 season. Guard Audrey Schiavone was an Express Times and Morning Call First Team selection, and a First and Second Team All-Colonial League her junior and senior year. Guard Karine Polgar was a First Team All-Colonial League and was an Express Times and Morning Call Second Team selection. Forward Karlee Corvasce was a CVC Third Team selection while guard Emily MacDonnell was a Second and Third Team All-County selection her junior and senior seasons. Also adding depth to the bench will be sophomore guard Gina Farquhar and freshmen guards Alison Davis, Steph Peterson, Marie Rossignoli and Alesha Marcks.
The Greyhounds begin their regular season on Thursday, November 15th as they travel to Ursinus College for a non-conference contest. Moravian's home opener will take place against DeSales University on Tuesday, November 20th. The Hounds will then open up Landmark Conference play on Saturday, December 1st as they host Juniata College.
