BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Moravian College women's basketball team fell to The University of Scranton, 72-71, Wednesday evening in the Landmark Conference semifinals. Senior forward Erin Boggan hit the game-winning shot to put the Royals up 72-71 with five seconds to play.
The Royals scored first in the contest of a jumper by junior guard Alison Sweeney. Boggan made it a 4-0 lead before a layup by junior guard Katie O'Rourke put Moravian on the board.
Scranton pushed its lead to 8-2 three minutes in, but a three-point play off a layup and a free throw by junior center Laura Jordan and a layup from sophomore forward Alexis Wright made the score 8-7 four minutes in.
After trading scores, Moravian finally took its first lead of the game off a layup after an offensive rebound by Wright. Freshman guard Jaclyn Gantz hit a three for the Royals by junior guard Danielle Brogan responded with a three of her own for the 19-17 lead ten minutes into the game.
The Brogan three started a 9-0 run for the Greyhounds with freshman forward Alesha Marcks and O'Rourke contributing for the 25-17 lead with 6:19 to play in the half. Sophomore guard Lindsay Fluehr ended Moravian's run with a lay-in. A layup by senior guard Katherine Torto made the score 27-23 with 3:31 left in the half. Brogan hit two free throws for the 31-24 lead before a three-pointer by Sweeney put the score at 31-27 at half.
Moravian shot 34-percent form the field while Scranton shot 31-percent from the field. The Greyhounds held the edge in rebounds at 27-26 while committing two less turnovers. Wright led Moravian with seven points, seven rebounds and two blocks in the half while Sweeney put up seven points and three assists for the Royals.
Brogan started the second half with back-to-back three-pointers for the 37-27 lead. Boggan responded with two scores of her own. Wright then hit back-to-back lay-ins for the 43-34 lead three and half minutes in.
After exchanging buckets, Scranton went on a 10-0 run led by sophomore forward Meredith Mesaris to knot the contest at 46 seven minutes into the second half. Brogan came back with a three from the wing for the 49-46 lead. Both teams traded leads for the next seven minutes until scores by senior guard Amanda Kreuder and Brogan put the Hounds ahead 67-64 with five minutes to play.
Mesaris took an offensive rebound and put it back in for the score while Marcks answered with a layup at the other end for the 69-66 lead with four minutes to play. Fluehr rallied for two lay-ins and the 70-69 Scranton lead with 2:40 to play. 30 seconds later O'Rourke nailed the layup for the 71-70 lead with 2:13 remaining. Moravian maintained that lead until Boggan hit a long two for the 72-71 lead with five seconds to play. O'Rourke got one last shot off before time expired, but missed as Scranton would win.
Wright led Moravian with a double-double of 19 points and 11 rebounds to go with her six blocks and three assists. Brogan put up 19 points and seven boards while going 5-for-9 from beyond the arc. O'Rourke contributed 12 points and three steals while Jordan added nine points and two blocks. Marcks finished with six points while Kreuder had six assists and five points.
Mesaris led Scranton with 21 points. Boggan had a double-double of 16 rebounds and 12 points to go with her three blocks while Fluehr had 13 points, eight rebounds and six assists. Sweeney finished with nine points and five assists.
Moravian shot 41-percent from the field while Scranton shot 40-percent for the game. The Royals held the edge in rebounds at 45-42 while the Greyhounds committed one less turnover.
Scranton will take on top seed The Catholic University of America on Saturday for the Landmark Conference Championship. Moravian will wait to hear whether they'll receive a NCAA or ECAC tournament bid. The NCAA selection show will air on NCAA.com at 2:30 p.m. on Monday, February 25th. If the Greyhounds are not an at-large selection to the tournament then the ECAC South field will be announced later in the day Monday.
