ALLENTOWN, Pa. --- The Moravian University women's basketball team fell to rival Muhlenberg College, 45-33, in non-conference action on the road in Allentown Wednesday evening to begin the 2023-24 season. 

How It Happened

• The Greyhounds opened the scoring on a jumper from junior forward Brielle Guarente; however, the Mules netted the next nine points. Moravian countered with an 8-0 run to move back ahead, 10-9, on a lay-up from freshman forward Grace Steffen, but that was the final points of the quarter for the Blue & Grey. Muhlenberg retook a 12-10 edge at the 2:29 mark with a three-pointer for the last score of the first period
• Sophomore guard Jayda Cartagena drilled a three-pointer to start the second quarter as Moravian led 13-12 just 23 seconds into the period. The squads combined for just 17 points in the second quarter with the Mules scoring the final four points to head to the locker room with a 21-18 advantage
• Muhlenberg hit the first basket of the second half while the Hounds eventually pulled within two points at 26-24 on a free throw from Guarente at the 3:06 mark. Guarente added a jumper just before the end of the period as the Mules held a 29-27 edge after 30 minutes of action
• Muhlenberg pushed the advantage to 32-27, but the Greyhounds closed to within a point at 32-31 when sophomore guard Juliana Vassallo hit a jumper with 7:04 to play. Moravian was kept scoreless for nearly six minutes until Vassallo connected on another jumper; however, the Mules led 45-31 by that point 

Inside the Numbers

• Moravian was led in scoring by Guarente, who netted 11 points to go with five rebounds and a pair of steals
• Cartagena finished with six points as she made two of the Hounds' trio of three-pointers on the night
• Vassallo and senior guard Reganne Flannery both scored four points with Flannery adding two rebounds, a steal and a blocked shot
• Freshman guard Emma Altmire contributed three points and a pair of rebounds while senior forward Sam Osorio had eight boards, two points and three blocks shots
• Steffen registered two points and four rebounds in her first collegiate game while junior guard Mikayla Anderson had a career high eight rebounds to go with an assist and a blocked shot
• Freshman guard/forward Lizzie Lustig added three assists, a point and a rebound while freshman guard Yarian Fernandez grabbed one board
• The Hounds struggled shooting the ball, going 13-for-46 from the floor, 3-for-11 beyond the three-point line and 4-for-9 at the foul line

Up Next for the Greyhounds

• Saturday, November 11 at Immaculata University, 1:00 p.m.
• Saturday, November 18 at Albright College, 2:00 p.m.