EWING TOWNSHIP, N.J. – Junior forward Alexis Wright recorded career highs in points with 31 and blocks with six as the Moravian College women's basketball team hung on to defeat The College of New Jersey 86-81 in a wild shootout on Wednesday night.
Wright recorded a double-double in the victory, picking up 10 rebounds to go with her 31 points on 11-of-21 shooting and a 9-of-12 mark from the free throw line. The junior was clutch down the stretch, converting two layups despite being fouled in the final three minutes and sinking the freebies to keep the Greyhounds (2-1) ahead.
"Alexis was making shots all over the place; inside, on the drive and on the perimeter," 27th-year head coach Mary Beth Spirk said. "She really stepped up her game and did it almost effortlessly."
Moravian shot 51 percent from the floor and its 86 points were the most scored in a game since an 86-42 win over Susquehanna University last season on Jan. 19. Wright's previous career high was 28 scored against DeSales University last season on Nov. 20 in Johnston Hall. Her six blocks beat her previous record of five recorded on three different occasions.
"Having Alexis underneath gives our guards more freedom to be aggressive on defense," Spirk said. "Her timing was outstanding on all of her blocks."
Every Hound who entered the game on Wednesday scored at least two points, with sophomore guard/forward Alesha Marcks scoring 10, sophomore guard Karine Polgar netting nine and senior guard Alyssa Hann and senior forward Ericka Blair getting eight. Polgar was 6-of-8 from the charity stripe, including a made free throw down the stretch when the Hounds were in the double-bonus as TCNJ sent Moravian to the line as a comeback tactic.
"We were more persistent and energized in the second half," Spirk said. "We were missing our floor general Katie O'Rourke after she left with an injury in the first half, but our girls found a way to win a wild game."
Sophomore guard Emily MacDonnell also contributed with high-pressure free throws to maintain the lead, knocking down three in the final minute of play.
Moravian took the lead for good with 13:53 left in the game when freshman guard Nellie Tanguay made her second of two three-pointers to give the Greyhounds a 58-56 advantage.
The Greyhounds enjoyed a lead through the game's opening 10 minutes. Wright was at it early, getting the game's first two buckets and netting nine points en route to a 33-26 lead with just over six minutes left before the break.
The Lions mounted a comeback, however, going on an 11-1 run to take their first lead of the game and eventually taking a 42-41 lead into halftime.
Senior guard Danielle Brogan (seven points) came out of the intermission on fire as her five points on a successful jumper and a three-pointer tied the game at 50-50. The Lions would stretch a lead to 54-50, but Wright and Marcks each put two points on the board, setting up Tanguay's triple to push the momentum meter towards Moravian for good.
TCNJ kept it close through the majority of the second half, as both teams hit the double-bonus foul penalty with under seven minutes remaining. The Lions also cooled off in the field-goal percentage department, allowing the Hounds to pull away with Wright's taking over the game and her teammates converting clutch free throws.
Blair had an integral stretch during that period, making a layup, coming up with an offensive rebound, then converting two free throws to give her squad a 67-62 lead.
Moravian and TCNJ traded free throws as time wound down, and the Greyhounds led by as many as nine in the final five minutes. The Lions would get close with a trey and two freebies to cut the lead to 85-81, but Wright's teammates would not have her career night spoiled.
The Greyhounds return to action for their 2013-14 home opener on Saturday, when Albright College comes to Johnston Hall for Parents' Day and a 2 p.m. tipoff.
