Moravian Defends Home Court Against Goucher

BETHLEHEM, Pa. - The Greyhounds remained undefeated at home with a 70-59 victory over Goucher College in Landmark Conference action in Johnston Hall. The victory was Moravian's third straight and seventh of the season at home.

The Greyhounds jumped out to a 6-0 lead including a pair of baskets by sophomore guard Kate Harrison before the Gophers scored. Moravian's lead would quickly go to double-digits on a three-pointer by senior guard Megan Kocon for a 12-2 lead at the 16:10 mark. The Greyhounds' largest lead of the first half was 18 points, 28-10, with 6:58 remaining on a Harrison jumper. Moravian headed to the locker room with a 43-27 halftime lead.

The Greyhounds had a hot hand in the first half, connecting on 16 of 29 field goal attempts (55.2 percent), both three-point attempts and nine of ten free throw attempts. Moravian also had a 21-11 advantage in rebounds while both teams had eight turnovers. Goucher was 12 of 30 from the floor and three-for-three at the foul line in the first 20 minutes, and the Gophers missed all six of their three-point attempts in the first half.

When the second half started, the Greyhounds would continue to extend their lead, eventually to 25 points, 59-34, with 13:14 to play in the contest on a jumper from sophomore forward Kirsty Stearns. Moravian would start to rest in starters about midway through the second half and briefly saw its lead drop to nine points twice in the final 1:16 of the game.

The Greyhounds were nine of 27 from the floor (33.3 percent), one of eight on three-pointers and eight of 13 at the foul line in the final 20 minutes. Moravian finished with a 44-36 advantage on the boards, just the fifth time in 16 games this season the Greyhounds have out-rebounded an opponent. Moravian finished the game with 19 turnovers while Goucher committed 16 turnovers. The Gophers were 12 of 35 from the floor in the second half from the floor, one of five on three-pointers and seven of 13 at the foul line.

Moravian had three players in double figures led by sophomore guard Jessica Foran, who had a team 19 points while shooting a perfect eight-for-eight from the foul line. Foran also had three rebounds. Harrison tossed in 13 points with four assists and two rebounds while Stearns had 12 points and a team nine boards.

Sophomore forward Alyssa Bisci added nine points and eight rebounds for the Greyhounds while sophomore forward Lauren Fornazor had six points and three rebounds. Sophomore guard Amanda Brown contributed five points and three rebounds while senior guard LaToya Blake had five boards, four assists, four steals, three points and two blocked shots.

Goucher senior guard/forward Shadae Swan, the Landmark Conference's leading scorer, netted a game high 23 points, just under her season average, to go along with four rebounds and three assists. Swan had 13 points at halftime but would not score in the second half until 8:19 remained in the contest. Sophomore forward Amber Smith had 13 points, six rebounds and four steals for the Gophers while freshman guard Leia Roberts-Brown added seven points and three rebounds. Freshman center Kathleen O'Grady had five points and five rebounds for Goucher.