INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. --- The Moravian College women's basketball team is ranked in the top 25 in seven statistical categories of the NCAA stats through games of February 7 including leading Division III in free throw percentage at 78.5 percent.
The Greyhounds, who are 16-5 overall this winter, have connected on 329-of-419 free throws this season with the 329 made ranking as the 22nd most in the country. Moravian is no stranger to high free throw percentages having led the country in 2008-09 with an 80.3 percentage, just one of three Division III teams in NCAA history to shoot over 80 percent for a season, and the all-division record of 35-for-35 from the foul line versus Susquehanna back on December 7, 2003.
Moravian has five regulars shooting over 80 percent from the charity stripe this season led by senior forward Alesha Marcks at 88.1 percent (52-of-59). Junior forward Camille McPherson is hitting 84.2 percent (80-for-95), and she is ranked 34th in the nation individually having met the minimum of 2.5 made free throws per game. Senior guard Samantha Caligiuri, junior guard Morgan Calabrese and sophomore forward Trista Cunningham are also over 80 percent at the foul line this season.
"As a team we take great pride in our free throw shooting ability," commented 29th-year Head Coach Mary Beth Spirk. "We work every day at practice at the line and have a goal each game to shoot at least 75%. The players understand if we get to the line consistently and make these "free" point opportunities, it can take the pressure off on the offensive end. It is a huge accomplishment for this team to lead the country in foul shooting. We hope we can continue to get to the line, convert the free throws and use those points to help us win a few more games."
The Greyhounds are fifth in the nation in blocked shots with 140, fifth in blocked shots per game at 6.7, 11th in defensive rebounds per game at 31.0, 18th in total points with 1,563 and 20th in points per game with an average of 74.4. Individually, graduate student forward Alexis Wright is 25th in blocked shots with 58. 27th in total rebounds with 235, 33rd in defensive rebounds per game at 7.0, 33rd in rebounds per contest at 11.2 and tied for 34th in double-doubles with 11 this season.
Moravian is slated to return to action on Wednesday, February 10 in a Landmark Conference game versus Drew University with tip-off slated for 7:00 p.m. in Johnston Hall.
