Women's Basketball Defeats Nationally-Ranked #24 Juniata, 84-72

BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Moravian College women's basketball team defeated Landmark Conference foe and nationally-ranked No. 24 Juniata College, 84-72. The Greyhounds improved to 6-0 and 1-0 in conference play while the Eagles dropped to 4-1 and 0-1 in conference.

This was the Greyhounds first win over a ranked opponent since back in the 2009-10 season, when they defeated No. 13 The University of Scranton.

Sophomore forward Alexis Wright led the way for Moravian with a double-double off of 20 points and 19 rebounds to go with her two steals. Junior forward Laura Jordan finished with a career-high 13 rebounds to go with her eight points while classmate guard Katie O'Rourke tallied a double-double off of ten boards and career-high 19 points. O'Rourke added six assists and a career-best seven steals.

Senior guard Jordan Speck took a quick pass from junior forward Kate McDonald to score the first points of the game for the Eagles. The Greyhounds answered with a steal from O'Rourke which led to the breakaway layup from senior guard Amanda Kreuder. Sophomore forward Wright put up two layups, and junior guard Daniel Brogan followed with a three-pointer for a 9-4 lead three minutes in.

Sophomore guard Kelsey Livoti answered for Juniata, but freshman forward Alesha Marcks and O'Rourke went for back-to-back jumpers to make the score 15-5 four minutes into the half. A Livoti layup, a jump shot from senior guard Natalie Glinsky and three made free throws from Speck cut Moravian's lead to 15-12 five minutes into the game. A layup from junior forward Ericka Blair followed by a steal and a breakaway layup from Kreuder put Moravian up 19-12 with 13:49 to play in the half.

After both teams exchanging scores, O'Rourke would steal the ball and drive to the hoop for the layup while getting fouled. She converted the three point play for a 28-18 lead with 9:23 remaining in the half. Wright extended the Hounds lead to 12 points after slashing to the hoop for the layup. Freshman guard Paige Dennison answered with a jumper to make the score 32-22, Moravian with eight minutes to play.

A three from the corner by senior guard Natalie Glinky brought the Eagles within in single digits of the lead at 35-27 with six minutes remaining in the contest. A minute later Livoti made a layup while getting fouled. She converted the three-point play to make the score 39-32, Moravian. An offensive rebound and layup from Wright made the score 43-32 with three minutes to play in the half. The Greyhounds extended their lead down the stretch to take a 47-34 lead into the locker room.

Moravian shot 50-percent from the field while Juniata shot 41-percent from the field in the first half. The Greyhounds held the rebounding advantage at 30-8 while committing two more turnovers. Wright led Moravian in the first half with a double-double off of 18 points and 11 rebounds. The Eagles were led by Livoti with ten points.

Free throws from McDonald would be the first points of the second half for Juniata. Brogan then came back with a three-pointer from the corner, but Speck answered with one of her own to make the score 50-41. After a jump shot from Livoti, Brogan responded back with another three-pointer to make the score 53-43 two minutes in. Back-to-back layups from junior guard Jordan Hileman and Speck brought Juniata within four points at 53-49, four minutes into the second half.

The Greyhounds then went on a 6-0 run in 28 seconds to end the Eagles momentum and swing it back their way. It started with a jumper from Marcks, then freshman guard Karine Polgar stole the inbound pass and made the layup, and a steal and a layup from Wright capped the 6-0 run to make the score 59-51 six minutes into the second half. Marcks pushed the lead to 61-51 after driving along the baseline for the layup.

McDonald ended Moravian's run with a layup, and Speck followed that up with a three on the next possession to make the score 61-56 with 11:22 to play in the game. A steal from O'Rourke lead to points the other way for Marcks, but Speck came back with a three of her own to make the score 65-61 with ten minutes remaining in the contest.

O'Rourke then went on a 9-0 run of her own drilling a rainbow three. She then stole the ball and went for the layup, but was fouled. She converted both free throws. She followed that with a fade away jumper from the baseline, and a layup on the next possession to make the score 74-61 with five minutes to play in the game.

Layups from McDonald, Hager and Livoti ended the Greyhounds run to make the score 76-67, Moravin with 2:46 to play in the contest. A turnaround layup from Jordan put Moravian back up by 11 at 78-67 with 3:29 to play. Juniata wouldn't get any closer as the Greyhounds would go onto win 84-72.

Brogan finished with nine points and two boards while Kreuder had ten points and three rebounds. Marcks added eight points while Polgar had seven points and two steals.

Leading the way for Juniata was Speck with 21 points and four rebounds. McDonald finished with ten points and 13 rebounds while Livoti added 12 points.

Moravian shot 44-percent from the field while Juniata shot 36-percent from the field in the contest. The Greyhounds out rebounded the Eagles 57-32 while committing six more turnovers in the game. Moravian took advantage of the turnovers they did get, by outscoring Juniata 28-12 with points off turnovers.

The Greyhounds return to action on Tuesday, December 4th as they host Eastern University. The game is scheduled for 7 p.m. inside Johnston Hall.