KING'S POINT, N.Y. – The nationally-ranked No. 22 Moravian College women's basketball team defeated The United States Merchant Marine Academy, 69-53, Wednesday evening in Landmark Conference action. Sophomore forward Alexis Wright led the way with her 11th double-double of the season of 17 points and 17 rebounds to go with her three steals and two blocks.
Junior guard Katie O'Rourke put the Greyhounds (15-2, 6-0 Landmark) on the board first with a layup. Senior guard Tamara Kaileh responded with a layup for the Mariners (7-7, 1-5 Landmark). Junior guard Danielle Brogan came back with a three from the corner for the 5-2 lead three minutes in.
After a two by USMMA, Brogan hit another three-pointer for the 8-4 lead. Freshman guard Marlee Chovich then hit a layup, and sophomore forward Rebecca Resor followed with a jumper to tie the game at eight, six minutes into the game. Junior center Laura Jordan put the Hounds up 11-10 with a layup a minute later.
After trading scores, a three-pointer by sophomore guard Demi VanDerWal put the Mariners up 15-13, but freshman forward Alesha Marcks tied the game at 15 with a lay-in. Wright followed with back-to-back layups for the 20-15 lead with 9:32 to play in the half.
After exchanging points, Wright added two more layups to put Moravian up 28-19 with 5:37 remaining in the half. Senior guard Amanda Kreuder then drove the hole for the lay-in while getting fouled. She converted the free throw to put the Greyhounds up 31-19.
USMMA answered with back-to-back scores by junior forward Kristina Walz and Resor to cut the score to 33-25 with 3:32 to play in the half. A lay-in by O'Rourke ended the Mariners run and made the score 35-25. Moravian added to its lead as they took a 41-25 lead into the locker room.
Wright led the Greyhounds at the half with ten points and eight rebounds while Resor led the Mariners with eight points and eight boards. Moravian shot 38-percent from the field while USMMA shot 30-percent from the field for the half. The Greyhounds held a 30-18 rebounding advantage while committing three less turnovers.
Jordan's layup was the first point of the second half. Senior guard Roshenda Josephs answered with a jumper. After exchanging scores, Resor hit a layup while getting fouled. She missed the free throw that lead to an easy two the other way for Marcks to make the score 50-32 nine minutes into the half.
A three from the wing by Resor brought the score closer at 54-37, junior forward Ericka Blair came back with a layup. USMMA then went on 8-0 run with points by VanDerWal and Resor to put the score at 56-45 with 6:48 remaining in the game.
A jump shot from the top of the key by Wright ended the Mariners run while putting the Greyhounds up 58-45 with five minutes to play. A minute later, Wright powered to the hoop for another lay-in. Resor and Kreuder exchanged buckets to put the score at 62-47 with three minutes remaining in the game. The Greyhounds maintained their double-digit lead down the stretch as they won 69-53.
Brogan put up ten points while Jordan had 11 rebounds, eight points and two blocks. O'Rourke finished with seven points, six rebounds and three assists while Kreuder had six points and five rebounds.
Resor led USMMA with a double-double off of 17 points and 14 rebounds to go with her four blocks and two steals. VanDerWal finished with 11 points while Walz had nine points and five boards.
The Greyhounds shot 33-percent from the field while the Mariners shot 32-percent from the field for the game. Moravian held the edge in rebounds at 61-36 while committing two less turnovers.
The Greyhounds return to the court on Saturday, January 19th as they travel to Landmark Conference foe Susquehanna University. The contest is set for 4 p.m.