Hounds' Seniors Ready for Their Chance in the NCAA Dance
BETHLEHEM, Pa. --- Moravian College seniors Ericka Blair, Danielle Brogan, Alyssa Hann, Laura Jordan and Katie O’Rourke finally get their chance to play in the NCAA Division III National Championship Tournament on Friday, March 7 after 112 games when the Greyhounds play Cabrini College in the opening round at Montclair State University with tip-off slated for 5:00 p.m.
BETHLEHEM, Pa. --- Moravian College seniors Ericka Blair, Danielle Brogan, Alyssa Hann, Laura Jordan and Katie O'Rourke finally get their chance to play in the NCAA Division III National Championship Tournament on Friday, March 7 after 112 games when the Greyhounds play Cabrini College in the opening round at Montclair State University with tip-off slated for 5:00 p.m.
"We are so ecstatic right now," Hann exclaimed. "We've worked so hard for this for four years so now that the time is here, it is an awesome feeling. The five of us are best friends on the court and off the court. We are together as one all the time so we play like it on the court. It is just a great feeling to go out as seniors in the NCAA Tournament."
The quintet has seen plenty of post-season action over the last four years with trips to the Landmark Conference Tournament each year and berths in the ECAC Division III South Championship Tournament the last three seasons with 2012 and 2013 ending with losses in the championship games in Johnston Hall. They have also put up some impressive numbers on the court over the last four seasons with 3,168 points, 1,868 rebounds, 707 assists, 663 steals and 298 blocked shots while combining for 9,741 minutes of action.
"It is very exciting to make the NCAA Tournament," O'Rourke said. "I think especially after hosting the ECAC Tournament the last two years, it was something that we really wanted to get into the NCAA Tournament this year. We are looking forward to the experience. It has been so awesome to play with the other seniors. From the beginning of freshman year, we've been really close. I think it was really special that we all take basketball as seriously as the next person so that is why we have been so successful because we have our priorities straight and we are all there for each other and support each other when we need it."
Blair, Brogan, Hann, Jordan and O'Rourke are more than just the Greyhounds' starting five on the basketball court. They are great friends when they're not on the hardwood, and they're also pretty good students with an average grade-point average of 3.52.
"It is one of the best feelings ever to hear our name called," Brogan said. "We wanted to win the Landmark Championship obviously but knowing that we got an at-large bid, it is still a great feeling. There were more than five of us at the beginning but I feel like the five of us clicked more for some reason. The fact that we are finally going to the NCAA in our last season, and we are best friends makes it so much better."
The group though is ready to show what they can do in the NCAA Tournament.
"It feels great," Blair explained. "I think that finally getting to play a game in the NCAA Tournament and make a statement is even better. We all came in as freshmen and we really didn't know each other. I played against Laura and Alyssa in high school but I never thought we'd be in this spot right now all playing together and feeding off of each other every game. It is going to be awesome to play in the NCAA's with them."
Jordan had one word to start that explained her feelings after hearing Moravian's name called on Monday.
"Relief," Jordan stated. "We worked so hard to get here and we underachieved last year so it was just one of the best feelings. It was disappointing to lose to Scranton in the championship but this is the next best thing. We're very supportive of each other. We're friends on and off the court and I think that is what has made us very successful and we celebrate each other which is really important. We really didn't want to go to ECAC's for a fourth straight year. I think we're all equally excited to go to the NCAA Tournament."
Blair is completing a degree in marketing this semester and has been injury-free after battling ailments her first two season. Blair has seen her time on the court jump from 8.7 minutes a game last year to 20.4 this season, and she lead the Hounds in free throw percentage this year at 83.9 percent, up from 51.9 percent in 2012-13. She eventually wants to return to school for her MBA. While she's missed the Landmark Conference's cutoff for the Academic Honor Roll, Blair has maintained over a 3.10 GPA in her career.
"Ericka, who keeps everyone laughing, worked the hardest to get where she did this year," said Head Coach Mary Beth Spirk. "She is the key to our success, in that she was ready to step right in as a starter and not only filled it, but succeeded on both ends of the court. She also became a force to be reckoned with throughout the conference."
Brogan is working on her secondary education certificate to go with a degree in English, and she is student teaching this semester. Of the group, Brogan is the long distance shooter, ranking 10th in school history at 30.8 percent behind the arc, and she is one of the team's co-captains this winter. She is 146-of-474 from downtown in her career, and after graduating Brogan hopes to become a teacher and a coach at the high school level. Brogan will be one of four from the group to be on the Landmark Academic Honor Roll for the last three years.
"Danielle might be the hardest worker I have ever coached," stated Spirk. "She wants to play and win every minute of every game, no matter if it is the simplest drill or most difficult game. She came into the year in great shape and had a terrific season."
Hann is finishing her degree in business management, and she also has a minor in Spanish that she hopes to put to work as a healthcare advisor upon graduation. Friday's NCAA game will be the 100th contest of Hann's Moravian career, and she has recorded more assists (163) and steals (153) than turnovers (127) in her four seasons. She is also a three-time member of the Landmark Academic Honor Roll.
"Alyssa also struggled through tough injuries during her career, but again, proved to herself, her coaches and her teammates that with a great attitude, terrific work ethic and desire to be your best, success will follow," Sprik explained. "She has had as solid a year as anyone this season."
Jordan has a dual major in psychology and early childhood education and has plans to be an elementary school teacher. Jordan has played in 111 of a possible 112 games in her career, missing the season opener in Texas this past November as she stayed in Bethlehem an extra day to complete her student teaching assignment. Jordan flew to Texas to meet up the team and has helped the squad lead the nation in blocked shots this season. The Hounds have a school record 231 blocked shots with Jordan recording 91 of them. She ranks second in school history with 191 career blocks. Jordan is also going to be a three-time member of the Landmark All-Academic Team, and she earned Landmark All-Conference Second Team honors for the first time in her career earlier this week.
"Laura is the ultimate team player who drove herself to be not only a starter, but also an All-Conference player," said Spirk.
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O'Rourke is also working on her teacher certification to go with a major in mathematics, and she too plans to become a teacher in the future after finishing her student teaching this spring. On the court, the two-year co-captain has become the first player in school history with 1,000 points, 500 rebounds, 300 assists and 200 steals as she enters the NCAA Tournament with 1,008 points, 560 rebounds, 350 assists and 201 steals. O'Rouke will be a three-time member of the Landmark Academic Honor Roll, and she has been named to the Landmark All-Conference First Team the last two seasons.
"Katie is our glue and is as good as any player that I have ever coached," Spirk stated.
When they're not playing on the basketball court or working in the classroom, the quintet has been a major part of Moravian's community service outreach. The five put together an Operation Pink Out video to promote the Greyhounds' annual Play 4Kay game to raise money for the Kay Yow Cancer Fund.
"They are, as a group, five of the best to represent Moravian in all aspects of their lives," Spirk explained. "They have embraced our community service projects as a team, they are Resident Advisors, SAAC president, ODK members, and participants in most any and all functions here on campus. Role models to the underclassmen on our team, they prove that you can be fierce and tenacious competitors on the court, but kind, compassionate, studious people off the court. They will leave a huge gap in our program, forever etched in the women's basketball history at Moravian College."
After 112 games wearing the Blue & Grey, Blair, Brogan, Hann, Jordan and O'Rourke are ready to show everyone what they can do with the chance in the NCAA Dance.
