CENTER VALLEY, Pa. --- Sophomore guard Maddie Capuano, sophomore forward Nadine Ewald and graduate student forward Camille McPherson all recorded double-doubles as the Moravian College women's basketball team held off DeSales University, 62-57, for a non-conference win Tuesday night in Center Valley.
The Greyhounds, now 3-1 overall after their third straight victory, won the annual pre-Thanksgiving contest between the local schools.
"It was a game of runs, and I thought we played well early especially in the first and second quarters," stated Head Coach Mary Beth Spirk. "Then we got a little sluggish in the third quarter but we were able to maintain. In the fourth quarter, we were just throwing the ball away and taking quick shots, and that was the problem to let them back in the game. I have to give our players credit because they made shots when they had to."
Capuano registered her first career double-double as she netted 23 points to go with a career-best 10 rebounds. Ewald had her seventh career double-double and second straight this season with 14 rebounds and 12 points to go with three blocked shots while McPherson had 16 points and ten boards for her first double-double of the year and the ninth of her career to go with a pair of assists.
"Maddie was so tough, and we gave her a lot of pressure by having her bring the ball, and then asking her to score 23 points which is pretty good for a point guard," commented Spirk. "Anytime you can get a win at DeSales, it is a good win. It wasn't easy but we'll take it heading into a little break."
Senior forward Trista Cunningham and sophomore guard Karlie Brogan both had nine rebounds and three assists to help Moravian post a 64-41 advantage on the glass. Senior forward Ciara Stewart added five points for the Greyhounds.
Moravian struggled shooting the ball especially in the second half as the Blue and Grey connected 18-of-60 field goal attempts (30.0 percent), 4-of-12 three-pointers and 22-of-36 free throws. The Greyhounds took 26 more free throws than the Bulldogs in the game.
McPherson opened the scoffing with a jumper on the Blue and Grey's first possession. After DeSales knotted the score at 2-2, Moravian took the lead on a lay-up from Capuano as the Greyhounds would lead until the fourth quarter. Ewald pushed the Hounds' edge to double figures at 19-9 with a lay-up with just 39 seconds left in the first period, and Moravian led 19-11 after ten minutes of action.
Stewart scored the first points of the second quarter nearly three minutes into action to push the Hounds' edge back to double digits, and a pair of free throws from Ewald with 2:35 before the intermission had Moravian with its largest lead of the night, 14 points at 29-15. McPherson scored the final points of the half as the Greyhounds headed to the locker room with a 34-21 advantage.
The Hounds led by as many as 13 points in the third quarter but a late three-point play by the Bulldogs has Moravian leading by just seven points, 48-41, after 30 minutes of play.
McPherson pushed the Greyhounds' edge back to ten points, 53-43, with 6:45 left on the clock. DeSales would put together an 11-0 run to take its first lead of the evening, 54-53, with 3:12 to play. Capuano answered right back with a three-pointer only to see the Bulldogs hit a three-pointer of their own to move up 57-56 with 2:10 left. Capuano would outscore DeSales, 6-0, over the final 1:51 with a jumper to give the Blue and Grey the lead for good and then four free throws in the final 27 seconds
Moravian is scheduled to close out its four-game road trip on Tuesday, November 28 with a non-conference contest at FDU-Florham tipping off at 7:00 p.m.
