BETHLEHEM, Pa. --- The Moravian College women's basketball squad will begin its 2017-18 campaign on Wednesday, November 15 when the Hounds welcome rival Muhlenberg College to Johnston Hall for a non-conference matchup with tip-off set for 6:05 p.m. as the game will be broadcast live by TV-2 Sports.
Thirty first-year Head Coach Mary Beth Spirk has 13 returning players on her squad that helped the Greyhounds post a 20-8 mark last winter and play in the Landmark Conference Semifinals and ECAC Division III Tournament Quarterfinals. The program is excited to have graduate student, forward and co-captain Camille McPherson back on the floor this year as she is using her medical redshirt year from 2014-15. McPherson, who was selected to the 2017-18 D3hoops.com Preseason All-America Third Team, averaged 22.9 points and 8.6 rebounds per contest a year ago, and she had eight double-doubles in 2016-17 while becoming the 26th player in school history to reach 1,000 career points and the first to hit the milestone in two seasons, needing just 54 games. McPherson also had a team-high 59 three-pointers to go with 80 assists, 20 steals and 15 blocked shots a year ago. McPherson was selected as Moravian's Outstanding Senior Female Athlete last May, and she was also honored as the Lehigh Valley Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women Outstanding Basketball player, a Women's DIII News Honorable Mention All-American, a D3hoops.com All-Mid-Atlantic Region Second Team selection, an ECAC Division III Metro First Team All-Star and a Landmark All-Conference First Team honoree in 2016-17.
In addition to McPherson, the Greyhounds return eight other players that saw action in more than 15 games last season. Sophomore guard Maddie Capuano was the Greyhounds second leading scorer a year ago at 12.7 points per game in her debut season, and Capuano added 125 rebounds, 72 assists, 54 three-pointers and a team-high 53 steals as she was named the 2017 Landmark Conference Rookie of the Year. Sophomore forward Nadine Ewald contributed 9.8 points and 7.9 rebounds per game in her freshman campaign to go with 22 blocked shots, 18 steals and 17 assists while the fourth returning starter for the Hounds is sophomore guard Karlie Brogan, who netted 7.4 points per contest to go with 134 rebounds, 48 steals, 35 assists, 23 three-pointers and 16 blocked shots.
Senior forward Trista Cunningham had averages of 4.7 points and 4.3 rebounds per game while making five starts, and she also had 18 blocked shots, 13 steals and 12 assists. Senior forward Ciara Stewart had 109 points, 69 rebounds and 22 blocked shots in her first season with the Greyhounds while junior forward Ariana Caiati added 64 points and 59 boards in her first year at Moravian. Senior guard Taylor Freeman had 20 points, 17 rebounds and 16 assists a year ago while senior forward Jen Cella added 26 rebounds, nine blocked shots, seven assists and five points.
Also returning to add depth for the Greyhounds are junior guard Emily Walls, junior guard Tyis Mullen, sophomore guard Brooke Santy and sophomore forward Christine Neu.
Watch a season preview video below including intervies with Coach Spirk, McPherson and Cunningham.