Women: Closer to the finish

More news about: Hope | Moravian | Olivet | UW-La Crosse
Jan 29, 2014
 
Brittany Berry and Hope have a two-game lead and the tie breaker over Olivet.
Hope athletics file photo

No. 4 Hope tightened its hold on first place in the MIAA with a 70-58 win over No. 24 Olivet.

Brittany Berry scored a seson-high 20 points for Hope on 8-for-16 shooting, including four three-pointers. The Flying Dutch only shot 36 percent as a team, but forced 26 Olivet turnovers.

Despite the loss, the Comets acquitted themselves well. Olivet led Hope 33-32 early in the second half and only trailed by four in the closing minutes before the Flying Dutch pulled away. The Comets had four starters reach double-figures, but their reserves didn't score any points in limited minutes. Box score

Moravian rallied to beat No. 25 Scranton 66-65 in a wild finish that throws the Landmark Conference race open. With under a minute to play, Scranton scored six straight points to take a 65-62 lead on the Greyhounds. Katie O'Rourke hit two free throws to pull Moravian within one and, after Scranton missed the front end of a one-and-one, O'Rourke was fouled again with two seconds left.  She hit both free throws to give Moravian the win and Scranton its first loss in conference. Box score

Denison hung tough against No. 1 DePauw but couldn't overcome Alex Gasaway's 20 points in the Tigers' 61-51 win. DePauw converted 20 of its 26 free throw attempts.

UW-La Crosse entered Wednesday with five losses in its last six games and a 2-7 record in conference. Then the Eagles scored a major upset at No. 15 UW-Oshkosh 85-80 in double overtime.

Concordia-Moorhead defeated Bethel 84-59 to split the season series with the Royals and stay one game behind No. 21 St. Mary's (Minn.).  The Cardinals took care of St. Olaf, 76-52.

No. 9 FDU-Florham lost to Delaware Valley last season and trailed the Aggies at the break, but the Devils rallied to win, 74-52. On the other side of the MAC, Lebanon Valley opened a one-game lead on three teams. Messiah edged Elizabethtown 59-58 to deny the Blue Jays their first regular season sweep of the Falcons since 1999.