Eastern Edges Moravian, 83-81

The Moravian College women's basketball team had five players in double figures but the Greyhounds were unable to hold onto a lead as the squad dropped an 83-81 non-conference game at Eastern University Monday evening, Moravian's final non-conference contest of the 2011-12 season.

The Greyhounds (8-6 overall) had the ball for the final shot to tie the game, however; freshman forward Alexis Wright and junior guard Amanda Kreuder both missed shots in the final seconds as the clock wound down.

Freshman forward Meghan Nowak opened the scoring for the Eagles (10-2) at the 19:31 mark, but the Greyhounds scored six straight points to take a 6-2 lead on a lay-up from senior forward Alexandra Blair. Moravian would push its lead to nine points, 15-6, after a pair of free throws from sophomore guard Katie O'Rourke with 15:14 left in the first half but five minutes later, Eastern pulled within a point, 24-23, on a lay-up from freshman guard/forward Kaleigh Boreman.

The Greyhounds pushed their lead back to seven points, 35-28, on a three-point play by Blair, and Moravian had a seven-point advantage, 37-30, after a lay-up by sophomore forward Laura Jordan with 6:29 left before the inter mission. The Eagles pulled within three points, 39-36, on a lay-up from senior forward Bekah Roland but that would be as close as Eastern would get in the first half.

Moravian headed to the locker room with a 44-39 halftime lead after the Greyhounds connected on 17-of-36 first half field goal attempts (47.2 percent). Moravian was nine-for-13 at the foul line but just one-for-eight on three-pointers in the opening 20 minutes. The Greyhounds did have a 24-12 advantage in rebounds in the first half, and Moravian committed eight turnovers while Eastern had seven. The Eagles connected on 16-of-38 field goal attempts (42.1 percent), two-of-ten three-pointers and five-of-nine free throws in the opening half.

Blair gave Moravian a 46-43 lead early in the second half before the Eagles retook the lead for the first time since the opening minute of the game on a Nowak lay-up at the 17:47 mark of the second half. Eastern eventually built a pair of four-point leads, the second on a three-pointer by Boreman with 12:50 left in the second half.

Sophomore guard Danielle Brogan would get the Greyhounds back in front, 58-57, with a three-pointer at 11:57. The teams traded the lead with Moravian eventually taking a 68-64 advantage on another Brogan three-pointer at the 8:46 mark. The Greyhounds held that lead until Nowak made three free throws at the 4:04 mark to put the Eagles back in front, 73-71.

Roland hit a three-pointer at 2:41 to put the Eastern lead to seven points, 78-71, but Moravian pulled within two points, 78-76, on a Brogan three-pointer with 1:41 to go. Blair connected on a lay-up to put the Greyhounds down just one point, 79-78, with 1:13, and after a three-pointer by Boreman, Brogan connected from long range again to keep Moravian within a point, 82-81, with 24 seconds to play. Boreman hit one-of-two free throws with 14 seconds remaining, giving Moravian the chance at the final two shots to tie he game.

Blair led Moravian's offense with 20 points to go with five rebounds while Brogan tossed in 16 points to go with four boards. O'Rourke added 13 points, four rebounds and four steals while Kreuder finished with 11 points, six rebounds and four assists. Wright contributed ten points, six boards, three steals and a pair of assists while senior guard Hilary Murray added five points, four rebounds and three assists. Sophomore guard Alyssa Hann had four points, three assists and four boards for the Greyhounds.

Roland led five Eastern players in double figures with a game high 21 points to go with five rebounds and three steals. Nowak finished with 16 points, eight rebounds and a pair of blocked shots while Boreman had 14 points and five boards for the Eagles. Sophomore guard Katie Lincoln and senior guard Shante Jones each tossed in 11 points with Lincoln contributing eight rebounds, four assists and four steals and Jones adding six rebounds and six assists. Freshman guard Kaitlyn Dougherty had eight points and three assists for Eastern.

The Greyhounds will return to action on Friday, January 13 when they host The United States Merchant Marine Academy in a Landmark Conference game in Johnston Hall tipping off at 7:30 p.m.