Moravian Rallies from 14-Point Deficit to Top Immaculata by One in Overtime to Begin 2024-25 Season

BETHLEHEM, Pa. --- The Moravian University women's basketball team rallied from a 14-point third quarter deficit to earn a 66-65 overtime victory over visiting Immaculata University in non-conference action in Johnston Hall Monday evening to begin the 2024-25 season.

How It Happened

• The Greyhounds scored the opening points of the season on a jumper by junior guard Jayda Cartagena, and junior forward Kania Day knotted the score at 4-4 with a pair of free throws. The Mighty Macs netted the next eight points to take a 12-4 edge, and Immaculata pushed the advantage to ten points before leading 17-8 after ten minutes of action
• Sophomore guard/forward Lizzie Lustig hit the first shot of the squad quarter to get the Blue & Grey within seven points at 17-10 before the Mighty Macs stretched the edge to 12 points at 23-11. Immaculata took a 30-20 lead to the locker room
• The Mighty Macs scored the first four points of the second half for the largest lead of the game at 14 points, 34-20, with 8:18 to go in the third quarter. Immaculata still led by 14 at 38-24 with 5:30 left in the period when Moravian went on a 13-3 run to end the quarter. The Hounds cut the deficit to three points at 40-37 on a three-pointer from sophomore guard Emma Altmire with 46 seconds left in the third quarter and the score had Immaculata leading 41-37 after 30 minutes of play
• The Mighty Macs were up 44-39 two and a half minutes into the fourth quarter when Moravian scored five straight points to tie the game again for the first time since the first quarter at 44-44 after a three-point play from Lustig. Immaculata retook the lead but only by three points. Altmire knotted the contest again at 49-49 with a. three-pointer at the 3:25 mark. The Mighty Macs once again moved back in front by three points, and this time it was freshman guard Ellie Wallbillich that connected on the game-tying three-pointer to make it 56-56 with 1:27 left in regulation. That would be the final points of the fourth quarter as the contest headed to overtime
• Wallbillich started the overtime with a jumper to give the Blue & Grey their first lead since the opening minute of action, and Altmire added two free throws for a 60-56 edge. Immaculata came back and knotted the score at 61-61 and then 62-62. The Mighty Macs had a pair of one-point leads including 65-64 with 35 seconds left. Moravian scored the final points of the night when junior guard Juliana Vassallo sank a pair of free throws with 24 seconds to go to seal the victory

Inside the Numbers

• Moravian had three players in double figures let by Altmire, who netted a career high 19 points to go with five assists, two rebounds and a pair of steals. Altmire was 5-for-7 from the floor including 3-for-5 on three-pointers and 6-for-8 at the foul line
• Wallbillich tossed in 12 points in her first collegiate contest to go with six boards while Lustig finished with ten points, nine rebounds, two assists and two steals
• Vassallo contributed eight points, six rebounds and two assists while Day added six points, six rebounds and a pair of blocked shots in her first game as a Greyhound
• Cartagena registered five points and two rebounds while sophomore forward Lanie Herbert had four points and two boards
• Senior forward Brielle Guarente grabbed eight rebounds to go with three assists, three blocked shots and two points while senior guard Mikayla Anderson and freshman guard Sofia Squizziato each had two boards
• The Blue & Grey shot 22-of-63 from the field, 6-for-14 beyond the three-point line and 16-for-21 at the foul line
• The Hounds had a 37-32 edge in defensive rebounds while Immaculata had a 50-49 overall rebound advantage
• The victory was the first for Acting Head Coach Kelly Fallara 

Up Next for the Greyhounds

• Friday, November 15 vs. Albright College, 6:00 p.m.
• Wednesday, November 20 at Drew University, 7:00 p.m.