The 2009-10 Moravian College women’s basketball team expects to continue its postseason run this year as the program heads into its third year in the Landmark Conference, especially after eight straight trips to the conference playoffs, a trip to the NCAA Division III National Championship Tournament in 2009, and an ECAC Division III Southern Championship three winters ago.

Head coach Mary Beth Spirk, who begins her 23rd year with the Greyhounds, led Moravian to an overall record of 21-7 last winter and returns 14 letterwinners and all five starters this season from a team that hosted the NCAA Tournament First & Second Rounds.

Leading the returnees for Greyhounds this season will be senior forward Alyssa Bisci (Easton, PA/Easton HS), who averaged 11.8 points per game to go along with 33 steals, 30 assists and 134 rebounds. Bisci, pictured at right, who was named to the 2009 Landmark All-Conference Second Team, also led the team from the foul line, shooting 89.7%, including a school record 50 straight free throws from December 12th to January 25th. Senior forward Kate Harrison (Cold Spring Harbor, NY/Cold Spring Harbor HS), who was named to the 2009 Landmark All-Conference First Team, averaged 10.7 points per game to go along with 21 blocks, 147 rebounds, a team leading 92 assists and 37 steals.

Senior forward Kirsty Stearns (East Norwich, NY/Oyster Bay HS) averaged 9.8 point per game including 19 steals, 23 blocks, 29 assists and a team leading 157 rebounds. Senior guard Jessica Foran (Annandale, NJ/Rutgers Prep HS) contributed 9.2 points per game with 31 steals, 44 assists and 89 rebounds. Senior guard Amanda Brown (Schuylkill Haven, PA/Schuylkill Haven HS) put up 169 points last season to go along with 30 steals, 47 assists, 61 rebounds and a team leading 33 three-pointers made.

Junior forward Amy Heffner (Schnecksville, PA/Parkland HS) knocked down 202 points on the year, including 24 steals, 15 blocks, 22 assists and 134 rebounds in her first season as a Greyhound. Sophomore guard Hilary Murray (Clinton, NJ/North Hunterdon HS), pictured at left, contributed 154 points, 33 steals, 46 assists and 47 rebounds while sophomore forward Alexandra Blair (Hellertown, PA/Bethlehem Catholic HS) posted 144 points, 11 steals, 90 rebounds and a team leading 33 blocks in her first collegiate season.

Junior guard/forward Emily Smith (East Stroudsburg, PA/East Stroudsburg South HS) recorded 80 points, 28 steals, five blocks, 21 assists and 42 rebounds while senior forward Alyson Steltz (Emmaus, PA/Emmaus HS) knocked down 56 points, 16 steals, 22 assists and 32 rebounds in her first year with the Greyhounds. Senior forward Lauren Fornazor (River Vale, NJ/Pascack Valley HS) contributed 41 points, 12 steals, 13 assists and 45 rebounds while sophomore guard Cassandra Phillips (Orwigsburg, PA/Nativity BVM HS) put up 25 points, five steals, nine assists and seven rebounds. Junior forward Amie Ballo (Andes, NY/Andes Central HS) had 14 points, three blocks and six rebounds while junior Jennie Miller (Lewisburg, PA/Lewisburg HS), who played in three games before suffering a season ending injury, adds depth for Moravian.

Coach Spirk has another strong recruiting class and needs to have good leadership this season as Moravian aims for a ninth straight postseason berth and the Landmark Conference championship.

The regular season begins when the Greyhounds host long time rival Elizabethtown College on November 15th. Moravian will also host the Starters Moravian Winter Classic for the ninth straight season in early January while traveling to Dickinson College for an early season tournament.