INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – The Moravian College women's basketball team is ranked first in NCAA Division III in blocked shots at 7.8 per contest in the latest national statistics release.
The Greyhounds (11-2) currently sit 0.4 blocks per game higher than the second place team, Denison University, in the rankings through games played on Jan. 5.
"It's always good to have our name on the top of a list," said head coach Mary Beth Spirk, who sits just two wins shy of 500 during her 27-year career at Moravian. "Blocks are all about timing, and it's something in which our girls have excelled. They all believe in help defense and trusting each other under our basket."
Moravian recorded a school-record 22 blocked shots in a single game in a 78-49 victory over Centenary (N.J.) College on Dec. 9 in Johnston Hall. The No. 1 ranking in blocks was sparked by the defensive prowess of junior forward Alexis Wright (3.29 bpg), who will miss the remainder of the season with an injury.
The average has since gone up to 8.1 blocks per game after the Greyhounds swatted away 13 shots in Tuesday night's 72-45 victory over Ursinus College.
Thirteen different players have recorded a block, with senior forward Laura Jordan leading the club with 28 (2.33 per game). Freshman forward Natalie Vanderlaan-Meyering has 12 blocks, with senior forward Ericka Blair blocking 11 and sophomore guard Karine Polgar getting eight. Sophomore swing Alesha Marcks has six and senior guard Danielle Brogan has five blocks this season. Jordan's 2.18 per-game mark as of Jan. 5 was ranked 46th in the nation.
The prolific blocking ability has contributed to Moravian giving up only 60 points per game through its 11-2 start to the season. At the midway point of the season, the Greyhounds (106 blocks) are on pace to match the school record for blocks in a season at 216.
The Greyhounds' remaining 12 games are against Landmark Conference opponents with the second half of the season tipping off on Saturday, Jan. 11 at 4 p.m. when Goucher College comes to Johnston Hall.
