GEORGETOWN, Tex. --- The Moravian College women's basketball team used a balanced scoring attack with four players in double figures to pick up its first win of the season, an 83-70 triumph over host Southwestern University in the second day of the Southwestern Tip-Off Tournament Saturday.
"Tonight was a great team win," stated Head Coach Mary Beth Spirk. "We played hard for 40 minutes with energy, hard defense and the offense was clicking on all cylinders."
Junior forward Alexis Wright led all scorers with 19 points, and she was a rebound shy of her second double-double of the season with nine boards to go with three rebounds and a pair of steals. Senior guard Katie O'Rourke tossed in 14 points to go with six rebounds and six assists while senior guard Danielle Brogan and senior forward Laura Jordan each netting 10 points. Brogan grabbed nine boards while Jordan had four rebounds.
"Katie and Alexis played really tough tonight but everyone contributed," Spirk said. "It was a nice way to rebound from the tough opener last night with nationally-ranked Trinity."
Sophomore guard Emily MacDonnell added eight points and three assists off the bench while sophomore forward Alesha Marcks had six points and five rebounds. Sophomore guard Karine Polgar contributed five points and a pair of assists while senior forward Ericka Blair and freshman guard Nellie Tanguay each had four points with Tanguay grabbing three rebounds. Senior guard Alyssa Hann added three points, three rebounds and three assists.
Senior guard/forward Chelsea Leeder led the Pirates with 17 points, five rebounds and four assists while junior forward McKamie Place added 13 points. Junior forward Annie Bourne led Southwestern on the glass with eight rebounds to go with eight points while junior guard Valerie Logan had eight points, seven assists and five rebounds. Sophomore guard Audrey Garcia tossed in seven points and had five boards.
Moravian took an early 3-0 lead in the game before the Pirates tied the game. The Greyhounds pulled out to a 10-5 lead on a pair of free throws by Wright at the 16:39 mark but Southwester eventually pulled in front 13-12 on a three-point play from junior forward Madison Eschle at the 14:37 mark.
With the score tied at 15-15, Moravian went on an 11-0 run to take a 26-15 lead on a jumper by MacDonnell with 10:56 left in the first half. The Greyhounds pushed the lead to 13 points, 36-23, on a jumper by Marcks at 7:29 only to see the Pirates score 16 of the next 18 points to take a 39-38 lead on a lay-up by Leeder with 2:31 before the intermission.
The Greyhounds moved back in front for good 11 seconds later on a jumper by Jordan, and Moravian headed to the locker room with a 44-39 lead. Both teams shot over 48 percent from the floor in the opening half, and the Greyhounds were 5-for-11 on three-pointers and 9-of-11 at the foul line in the opening 20 minutes of action.
Moravian had the lead for the entire second half, pushing the advantage to double figures at the 14:40 mark on a three-point play from Wright. The Greyhounds' largest lead of 19 points came on a three-pointer by Hann with 2:58 left to play. Moravian shot 42.7 percent (32-for-75) for the game, and the squad was 8-for-22 on three-pointers and 11-for-13 at the foul line. The Greyhounds also had a 46-40 advantage on the boards in the game.
Moravian is scheduled to return to action on Wednesday, November 20 in a non-conference game at The College of New Jersey with tip-off set for 6:00 p.m.
