ALLENTOWN, Pa. --- Senior forward Camille McPherson scored a career high 30 points and pulled down a career-best 19 rebounds for her first career double-double to lead the Moravian College women's basketball team to a 58-50 win over rival and No. 17 Muhlenberg College in non-conference action on the road to begin the 2016-17 season Tuesday evening.
The Greyhounds shot just 31.3 percent (20-of-64) from the floor but the Blue and Grey were 14-for-20 (70.0 percent) at the foul line and held a 68-49 advantage on the boards in the victory. Moravian limited the Mules to just 23.3 percent from the field (20-of-86) and 56.3 percent (9-of-16) at the foul line, and Muhlenberg made just one three-pointer while the Greyhounds made four treys.
Senior guard Morgan Calabrese contributed nine points and eight rebounds for the Hounds while junior center Ciara Stewart had eight points, five board and three blocked shots in her first game with the program after competing on Moravian's indoor track & field team the last two winters. Junior forward Jen Cella grabbed a career-high 11 rebounds while tying her career-high with three blocked shots.
Freshman guard Maddie Capuano added six points, four assists and three rebounds in her first collegiate start while junior forward Trista Cunningham had five points, five rebounds and a pair of blocked shots in her first college start. McPherson also had three assists in the victory while freshman guard Karlie Brogan pulled down six rebounds in her first collegiate start. Sophomore forward Ariana Caiati added four rebounds in her first game with the Moravian program.
"I thought it was important for us to start the game off strong and we did that," commented Head Coach Mary Beth Spirk, who is beginning her 30th season leading the Moravian program. "I think it gave the entire team some confidence that we could play with Muhlenberg on their court. The two quick fouls by Trista and Morgan could have really hurt us, but we got great contributions from our bench. CeCe, Jen and Ariana all filled in and gave us quality minutes. And Camille was outstanding on both ends of the court...the 30 points I was hoping for, but the 19 rebounds were just amazing.
"She had a strong a game as anyone at Moravian has ever had," continued Spirk. "She put the team on her back and delivered. Working with so many new faces, Camille kept us focused and calm. I could not be any more pleased with her effort and the entire teams effort tonight. Now we have to continue to build on it."
Calabrese snagged the opening tip-off and drove right down the floor to give the Greyhounds a quick lead and two free throws from McPherson and one by Cunningham had Moravian up 5-0 just 56 seconds into the contest. The Mules, ranked No. 17 in the D3hoops.com Top 25 Preseason Poll and No. 16 in the Women's Basketball Coaches Association Division III Preseason Poll, scored the game's next nine points to take a 9-5 lead. Calabrese tied the score at 9-9 with a jumper at the 4:42 mark, and the Hounds lead 18-14 after the first 10 minutes of action on a late lay-up by McPherson in the first quarter.
The Mules scored the first four points of the second period to tie the score before Capuan drilled a three-pointer. Muhlenberg pulled in front, 22-21, on a pair of free throws with 5:40 before the intermission but a lay-up by McPherson a minute later gave the Greyhounds a lead that they wouldn't relinquish. Stewart pushed the lead to nine points, 33-24, with two lay-ups and a free throw, and Moravian headed to the locker room with a 33-28 advantage.
Muhlenberg came out in the second half and cut the Blue and Grey's edge to 35-34 before McPherson hit two free throws and then back-to-back three-pointers to put the Greyhounds back in control. Moravian outscored the Mules 14-13 in the third quarter and led 47-41 after 30 minutes of action.
Baskets from Cunningham and McPherson to start the final quarter pushed the Hounds' lead into double digits at 51-41, and the advantage would get as large as 11 points on three occasions, the final time at 57-46, with 2:09 to play on two McPherson free throws before the Greyhounds settled for the 58-50 win.
Moravian is scheduled to return to action on Friday, November 19 in the opening day of the Swarthmore College Tournament where the Greyhounds play Cabrini University in the opening round at 7:00 p.m.
