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Sports News: Spring 2010

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

MORAVIAN WOMEN’S BASKETBALL TEAM UP TO 9TH IN LATEST USA TODAY ESPN DIVISION III COACHES TOP 25 POLL

LILBURN, GA --- The Moravian College women’s basketball team moved up one spot to ninth in the nation in the 13th USA Today ESPN Division III Top 25 Coaches’ Poll of the 2009-10 regular season.  The complete poll can be viewed at http://www.wbca.org/DIIICoachesPoll.asp.

The Greyhounds, under the direction of 23-year head coach Mary Beth Spirk, received 118 points.  Amherst College received seven first place votes and 175 points to remain in the top spot while Kean University is ranked second with 162 points.

Moravian defeated now 18th-ranked The University of Scranton, 73-63, on December 5th when Scranton was fourth in the nation, the Greyhounds defeated Scranton, 77-60, on February 20th when the Royals were 14th.  Moravian also defeated the Royals, 66-49, last Saturday when Scranton was tied for 17th.  The Greyhounds have a 51-48 win over DeSales University, which was ranked 21st at the time of the game on November 24th.  Moravian dropped an 84-71 decision to now receiving votes Muhlenberg College, 84-71, on December 7th.

The Greyhounds were ranked 20th in the USA Today ESPN Division III Coaches Preseason Top 25 Poll and received votes in the first two regular season polls before being tied for 21st in the third poll, 22nd in the fourth poll, tied for 22nd in the fifth poll, 19th in week six, 15th in the seventh poll, 13th in week eight, tied for 12th in the ninth poll, tied for 11th in week ten, tied for 10th in week 11 before being in tenth place alone last week.

Moravian will return to action on Friday, March 5th when the Greyhounds host Utica College in an NCAA Division III National Championship First Round game tipping off at 7:00 p.m. in Johnston Hall.

The USA Today ESPN Division III Coaches Top 25 poll is voted on by a panel of nine coaches, the chair of the panel does not vote, and is published weekly during the season.