Wednesday, November 9, 2005

MORAVIAN WOMEN’S BASKETBALL SQUAD PICKED IN TIE FOR FIRST IN COMMONWEALTH CONFERENCE PRESEASON COACHES POLL

ANNVILLE, PA --- The Moravian College women’s basketball team has been selected to finish in a tie with Messiah College in the Commonwealth Conference in the 2005-06 Commonwealth Conference Preseason Poll conducted by the conference coaches releases Wednesday. Both schools received four first place votes and 53 points.

Head coach Mary Beth Spirk enters her 19th season at Moravian with an experienced team that has seven players returning who played more that 14 minutes per game on last winter’s 24-6 squad, which hosted the Commonwealth Championship game and reached the finals of the ECAC Southern Tournament. The Greyhounds have been ranked in the Preseason Top 20 by both D3hoops.com and Women’s DIII News.

Coach Spirk also returns two players that earned honors from the Commonwealth Conference a year ago. Senior forward Stephanie Seaman (Bethlehem, PA/Bethlehem Catholic HS) was named to the Commonwealth All-Conference First Team, while junior forward Jenny Hackleman (Solvang, CA/Rutgers Prep {NJ} HS) was named to the Commonwealth All-Conference Second Team. Seaman was also Kodak/Women’s Basketball Coaches Association All-America Basketball Team Honorable Mention.

Seaman led the Greyhounds in points and rebounds with 13.7 points per game and 7.9 rebounds per game. She also had 50 assists, 40 steals and 22 blocked shots. Hackleman was second in scoring contributed 11.7 points and 7.3 rebounds per game to go along with 48 assists, 30 steals, and a team high 47 blocks.

Junior forward Kelly Applegate (Easton, PA/Wilson HS) contributed 10.3 points and 5.1 rebounds per game, to go along with 17 blocks, 19 steals, and 24 assists last year. Junior guard Rachel Berlin (Bethlehem, PA/Freedom HS) added 7.6 points per game, 66 rebounds, 16 three-pointers, 32 steals, 22 assists and two blocked shots. Junior guard Katie Rizman (Wall, NJ/St. Rose HS) added 8.6 points and 3.1 rebounds per game, along with 17 blocks. She led the team with 39 three-pointers a year ago and was second with 50 steals and 76 assists.

Senior guard Nicole Savino (Macungie, PA/Brandywine Heights HS) scored 5.3 points per game and had 72 rebounds, 16 assists, 23 steals, three blocks and 14 three pointers. Senior forward Lindsay Brase (Bethlehem, PA/Notre Dame HS) contributed 69 points, 40 rebounds, 14 assists, 13 steals, and four blocked shots, while sophomore guard Sara Steinman (Springfield, NJ/Jonathon Dayton HS) added 87 points, 22 rebounds, 35 assists, 13 steals, and 17 three-pointers in her debut season. Senior guard Dianna DeFiore (Hammonton, NJ/St. Joseph HS) put up 65 points, 23 boards, 19 assists, and nine steals while senior forward Heather MacDonald (Wayne, NJ/Wayne Valley HS) had 59 points, 47 rebounds, eight assists nine steals, and six blocked shots

Sophomore guard LaToya Blake (Allentown, PA/Dieruff HS) added 22 points, 43 rebounds, nine assists, 17 steals, and two blocked shots, while sophomore guard Megan Kocon (Bethlehem, PA/Liberty HS) had nine points, three rebounds, four assists and two steals. Sophomore guard Tina Moll (Kintnersville, PA/Palisades HS) had six points, five rebounds, and one steal.

Coach Spirk has another strong recruiting class and needs to have someone step forward as the starting point guard as Moravian aims for a fifth straight postseason berth and the Commonwealth Conference championship.

The Greyhounds will begin their 2005-06 season in the Dickinson College Tip-Off Tournament in Carlisle on Saturday, November 19th in an 8:00 p.m. game versus Goucher College.

2005-06 Commonwealth Conference Women's Basketball Coaches Preseason Poll