READING, Pa. – The Moravian College women's basketball team defeated Albright College, 60-57, Monday night. Junior guard Danielle Brogan led the way with 19 points off of five three-pointers. She also had four rebounds, three steals and two assists in the game.
Moravian got on the board first after a steal and layup from junior guard Katie O'Rourke. The Lions answered with a 6-0 run with points from junior forward Meghan Boyle and classmate guard Kristi McFadden. A three-pointer from sophomore guard Tara Sabotchick gave Albright a 13-4 lead just five minutes into the contest. Brogan ended the Lions run with a three-pointer of her own to make the score 13-7.
Moravian would slowly chip away at Albright's lead with a three from Brogan and key buckets from sophomore forward Alexis Wright and freshman guard Karine Polgar. Another three-pointer from Brogan with 3:39 remaining in the first half would bring the Hounds back to even at 21 all with the Lions. Both teams exchanged baskets until two free throws from O'Rourke gave the Greyhounds a 25-23 lead heading into halftime.
Moravian shot 29-percent from the field in the first half while Albright shot 37-percent from the field. The Greyhounds committed 11 less turnovers while the Lions held the rebounding advantage at 19-8. Brogan led the way in the first half with 11 points and two steals while Boyle led Albright with ten points and four boards.
Boyle would get the first points of the second half, but a layup and two free throws from Wright pushed the Greyhounds up 29-25 three minutes into the half. Albright would knot the game back up at 29 with 16:27 to play, but Brogan answered with another three-pointer for the one point lead.
Moravian would then go on a 12-0 run with points from Brogan, Wright, Polgar, O'Rourke and junior forward Erika Blair to take a commanding 44-31 lead with 13 minutes remaining in the game. Sabotchick ended the Greyhounds with a layup off a quick pass from Boyle. Wright responded less than 15 seconds later with an easy layup at the other end to maintain the 46-33 lead with 11:41 to play.
Both teams would trade points until a three-pointer and two free throws from sophomore guard Jessica Venturelli cut the Lions deficit to seven points at 51-44 with eight minutes left in the game. Two free throws from senior guard Amanda Kreuder ended Albright's 7-0 run to make the score 53-44.
Venturelli threw up a three that went in with seven minutes to go to cut the Hounds lead to six points at 53-47. After going a couple of minutes without either team scoring, Boyle hit a layup to make the score 55-51, Moravian with 3:41 to play. A key layup from Kreuder put Moravian back up by six at 57-51 with 1:38 remaining in the game. That would be just enough as the Greyhounds would hold the lead and win 60-57.
Wright finished with 18 points, eight rebounds and two blocks while O'Rourke tallied ten points, six assists, four steals and four boards. Kreuder added six points, six steals and four rebounds while Blair had six points and two points.
Boyle led Albright with 18 points and ten rebounds while freshman forward Kelecia Harris had 13 rebounds and six points. Sabotchick had 11 points, six assists and five boards while Venturelli had ten points.
The Greyhounds shot 36-percent from the field while the Lions shot 41-percent from the field. Moravian committed 11 less turnovers while Albright held the rebounding advantage at 29-20.
The Greyhounds return to action on Saturday, December 1st as they host Landmark Conference rival Juniata College. The game is scheduled for 2 p.m.
