BETHLEHEM, Pa. --- The Moravian University women's basketball program is set to host the 21st Steel Club Classic in Johnston Hall on Sunday, December 29 and Monday, December 30.
The tournament was held for 13 consecutive years before taking two years off after a change in the Landmark Conference schedule. The tournament resumed in December 2016 but was cancelled in 2021 due to the pandemic. The tournament was also held twice in the calendar year of 2022 in both January and last December.
The host Greyhounds are 33-7 all-time in the Steel Club Classic with 11 tournament titles. William Paterson University is making its seventh appearance in the tournament and has won the tournament title twice while the other two squads - Christopher Newport (Va.) University and Saint Elizabeth (N.J.) University - are both making their tournament debuts. The Captains and the Pioneers will open the tournament on Sunday at noon while the Greyhounds and the Eagles tip-off at 2:00 p.m. The consolation game is set for 11:00 a.m. on Monday followed by the championship contest at 1:00 p.m.
Moravian heads into the tournament with a record of 1-7 and a 0-4 slate in Landmark Conference action. Greyhounds' Acting Head Coach Kelly Fallara is in her first season guiding the program while Head Coach Mary Beth Spirk stepped away this season for medical reasons.
The Greyhounds are being led by sophomore guard Lizzie Lustig, who is averaging 11.3 points and 6.1 rebounds per game to go along with 23 assists, nine steals, four three-pointers and three blocked shots. Junior guard Juliana Vassallo is netting 9.8 points per contest with 29 rebounds, 12 three-pointers, 10 assists, four steals and three blocked shots while senior forward Brielle Guarente has averages of 8.3 points and 5.1 rebounds per outing to go with 12 assists, eight steals and seven blocked shots.
Graduate student forward Sam Osorio is contributing 6.5 rebounds and 6.0 points per game with four assists, three steals and three blocked shots while freshman guard Ellie Wallbillich is adding 5.4 points per contest with 19 rebounds, eight assists, four steals and four three-pointers. Sophomore guard Emma Altmire has registered 39 points, 11 assists, eight three-pointers, eight assists and four steals while junior guard Jayda Cartagena has 27 points, 23 rebounds, 13 assists and eight steals.
Sophomore forward Lanie Herbert has posted 22 rebounds, 20 points and three assists while freshman guard Sofia Squizziato has 18 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists and senior guard Mikayla Anderson has 17 rebounds, eight points, four assists and three steals.
Christopher Newport University from Newport News, Virginia comes to Bethlehem with a 10-1 record and ranked No. 11 in the latest D3hoops.com Top 25 poll. The Captains compete in the Coast-to-Coast Athletic Conference and have not played a conference game yet this season. Christopher Newport is headed by Bill Broderick, who is in his 12th season.
Fifth-year guard Camille Malagar leads the Captains in scoring at 10.6 points per game to go along with 22 assists, 19 rebounds, 17 steals and 11 three-pointers while sophomore forward Elizabeth Creed is averaging 8.6 points and 5.0 rebounds per contest with 19 steals, 14 assists, six three-pointers and three blocked shots. Senior forward Hannah Orloff is recording 7.0 points and 6.3 rebounds per outing to go with 19 blocked shots, 10 steals and four assists while senior forward Hannah Kaloi is posting 6.3 points and 4.2 rebounds per game with nine assists, five blocked shots and four steals.
Freshman forward Emma O'Connor is contributing 5.9 points and 4.2 rebounds per contest to go along with six steals and five blocked shots while sophomore guard Mia Wilson is adding 5.0 points per outing with 29 rebounds, 16 assists, 12 steals, 11 three-pointers and three blocked shots. Freshman guard Katerina Dakos has recorded 52 points, 14 steals, five assists, five rebounds and four blocked shots while freshman guard Madison McKenzie has 49 points, 17 steals and 11 rebounds.
Senior guard/forward Alexia Lindsey has 47 points, 23 rebounds, 22 steals and 16 assists this season while junior guard Hailey Kellogg has 48 points, 28 assists, 23 steals, 19 boards and seven three-pointers. Graduate student forward Sydney Sherman has posted 37 points, 23 rebounds, 12 assists and 12 steals while junior guard McKenna Snively has 36 points, 17 rebounds, 10 three-pointers and eight steals and fifth-year guard Gabbi San Diego has 34 points, 26 assists, nine steals and five boards.
Saint Elizabeth University, located in Morristown, New Jersey and enters the tournament with a 5-3 record. The Eagles play in the United East Conference and are 3-0 this winter. Saint Elizabeth is headed by Trey Bailey Strothers, who is in his third season.
Senior guard Yasminah White leads the Eagles with averages of 17.3 points and 5.9 rebounds per contest to go with 36 assists, 24 steals and 19 three-pointers while senior guard Ashley Phillip is contributing 11.9 points and 4.4 boards per game with 26 steals, 23 assists and 13 three-pointers. Sophomore guard Mya Davis is posting 9.7 points per outing with 25 rebounds, 22 assists, 21 three-pointers and 16 steals while junior guard Ahjionae Cobb is registering 9.3 points and 4.7 rebounds per contest with 18 assists, 10 steals and four blocked shots.
Senior forward Paige Neal leads Saint Elizabeth on the boards with an average of 10.1 rebounds per game to go with 6.5 points per outing, 32 steals, 10 assists and eight blocked shots. Freshman forward Aliyah Folarin has 40 rebounds, 30 points, nine assists, six steals and three blocked shots while senior forward Laila Kendle has added 69 rebounds, 16 steals, nine points, six blocked shots and four assists.
Junior guard Nacheca Joseph has contributed 15 points, 7 assists, seven steals and five rebounds while freshman guard Amaya Carruthers has 12 points, 12 rebounds and four assists and junior guard/forward Jasmine Pierce has 11 rebounds, eight points and three assists.
William Paterson University from Wayne, New Jersey and comes to Bethlehem with 6-3 record. The Pioneers compete in the New Jersey Athletic Conference and are 4-1 in conference play this season. William Paterson is led by Erin Monahan, who is in her 32nd season.
Senior guard Brianna Smith leads the Pioneers in scoring at 13.4 points per game to go with 22 rebounds, 21 assists, 17 steals and 14 three-pointers. Junior forward Renee Wells is contributing 13.2 points and 4.3 rebounds per contest with 33 assists, 18 steals and 14 three-pointers while sophomore guard Mattison Chiera is posting 9.2 points per outing with 34 rebounds, 15 steals, 13 assists and eight three-pointers.
Junior forward Patty Walsh is registering 9.6 points and 7.1 rebounds per game to go along with 14 blocked shots, four assists and four steals while senior guard Jade Martinez has recorded 31 points, 18 rebounds, 14 steals and 13 assists. Sophomore guard Jada Jacobs has contributed 40 rebounds, 31 points, 16 steals and 10 assists while senior guard Victoria Palladino has 29 points, 20 rebounds, 17 assists and 14 steals.
Freshman guard/forward Leilani Pinder has posted 23 points,14 rebounds, five assists and five steals while freshman guard Kaelyn Gowdy has 15 points, 10 rebounds and six steals and junior guard Luna Kirby has added 14 points, three boards and three steals. Junior forward Jasmine Sullivan and freshman forward Kasey Slade each have scored 10 points while Sullivan adding 21 rebounds and four assists and Slade grabbing eight boards.
