Moravian Drops Non-Conference Match-Up with LVC

BETHLEHEM, Pa. --- The Moravian University women's basketball team raced out to an early lead and had a one-point advantage at halftime before dropping a 66-61 decision to visiting Lebanon Valley College in non-conference action in Johnston Hall Saturday afternoon. 

How It Happened

• The Hounds scored on their opening possession on a jumper from sophomore guard Jayda Cartagena before the Flying Dutchmen netted the next five points. The Blue & Grey answered with an 8-0 run as senior forward Sam Osorio made it 10-5 for the Greyhounds with 3:43 left in the first quarter. Cartagena drained a three-pointer while a jumper by freshman guard/forward Lizzie Lustig had Moravian leading 17-9 at the two-minute mark. The Hounds held a 19-14 edge after ten minutes of action
• Freshman center Grace Steffen began the second quarter with a lay-up to give the Blue & Grey a seven-point edge at 21-14. LVC netted the next seven points to knot the score at 21-21 before the Hounds moved back ahead by four points. The Flying Dutchmen countered and took a 27-25 lead with just over two minutes left in the half. Junior forward Brielle Guarente sank a jumper, and Osorio had a three-point play as Moravian retook a 30-27 edge. LVC scored the final bucket of the half as the Greyhounds headed to the locker room up 30-29
• The squads traded baskets to start the second half before a 9-0 from the Flying Dutchmen had LVC leading 40-32 just three and a half minutes into the third period. Lebanon Valley pushed the edge to ten points before Moravian got back within three at 48-45 on a three-pointer from Cartagena with 1:08 left in the quarter. LVC scored again to hold a 50-45 edge after 30 minutes of action
• The Flying Dutchmen scored first in the fourth quarter; however, the Greyhounds countered with an 8-0 run capped off by a lay-up from Osorio to put Moravian back in front 53-52 with 6:40 remaining. Over the next five minutes, the teams traded the lead seven times before LVC scored the final six points of the game after the Blue & Grey had taken a 61-60 on a jumper from Guarente with 1:38 to play

Inside the Numbers

• Moravian had four players double figures led by Guarente, who netted 14 points to go along with nine rebounds, four assists and two steals
• Lustig and Osorio both finished with 13 points with Osorio adding six board and four steals and Lustig grabbing a pair of rebounds
• Cartagena recorded 12 points and four boards while Steffen finished with seven rebounds, six points and a pair of assists
• Sophomore guard Juliana Vassallo scored three points and had two rebounds while senior guard Reganne Flannery registered four rebounds and three assists
• The Hounds were 28-of-65 from the field, 4-for-9 beyond the three-point line and made their only free throw attempt
• The Blue & Grey finished the afternoon with a 36-25 advantage on the boards including 13-3 on offensive rebounds

Up Next for the Greyhounds

• Friday, December 29 vs. Neumann University in Steel Club Classic, 12:00 p.m.
• Saturday, December 30 vs. TBD in Steel Club Classic Consolation, 11:00 a.m. or Championship, 1:00 p.m.