Tuesday, January 24, 2006

MORAVIAN WOMEN FALL TO RECEIVING VOTES IN D3HOOPS.COM EIGHTH
REGULAR SEASON TOP 25 POLL

STERLING, VA --- The Moravian College women’s basketball team, which is off to a 13-3 start, fell out of the top 25 to the receiving votes list in the D3hoops.com eighth regular season Top 25 Poll announced Tuesday. The complete poll can be viewed at http://www.d3hoops.com/top25/.

The Greyhounds, under the direction of 19-year head coach Mary Beth Spirk, were ranked 19th in the preseason poll, 15th in the first regular season poll and 12th in the second poll of the year. Moravian was ranked 18th in the third and fourth polls prior to slipping to 20th. The team had moved back up to 17th two weeks ago and 16th last week before a pair of losses dropped the squad from the rankings. The Greyhounds received 38 points, just five points out of the top 25 and three points behind Washington & Jefferson College. Moravian has won 13 of its first 16 games of the year by an average of 13.2 points, and the team has begun its 2005-06 Commonwealth Conference season with a 4-2 mark.

The University of Southern Maine retained the top spot in the nation with 21 first-place votes and 619 points. The University of Scranton is second with 593 points and two first-place votes.

Moravian dropped a 67-62 decision to Scranton on Wednesday, December 7th in Johnston Hall. The Greyhounds will play 10th-ranked Messiah College twice during the Commonwealth Conference season, in Johnston Hall on January 25th and in Grantham on February 11th. Both games are slated to begin at 6:00 p.m. Moravian also has a game scheduled versus rival Muhlenberg College on Thursday, February 2nd. The Mules are right behind the Greyhounds with 30 points in the receiving votes list.

Moravian will return to action in a Commonwealth Conference game versus 10th-ranked Messiah College on Wednesday, January 25th in Johnston Hall at 8:00 p.m.