Tuesday, January 5, 2010

MORAVIAN WOMEN’S BASKETBALL GAME AT DREW UNIVERSITY ON JANUARY 9TH MOVED TO 6 P.M. TIP-OFF
TO ALLOW GREYHOUNDS TO ATTEND FUNERAL FOR PATTI HEFFNER

BETHLEHEM, PA --- The 18th-ranked Moravian College women’s basketball team in conjunction with the Landmark Conference and Drew University has changed the starting time of its Landmark Conference game scheduled at Drew on Saturday, January 9th, 2010 from 2:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. to allow the Greyhounds to attend the funeral of Patti Heffner, mother of junior forward Amy Heffner (Allentown, PA/Parkland HS).

Patti succumbed to brain cancer on Tuesday, January 5th, and the funeral and Catholic mass are scheduled for Saturday, January 9th at 11:00 a.m.  A viewing for Patti is being held on Friday, January 8th from 2:00 to 9:00 p.m. in the Parish Hall at St. Joe's the Worker in Orefield.

“Amy has become such a part of our Moravian family since she arrived last year that our team felt it needed to support her and her family at the funeral,” said Moravian head coach Mary Beth Spirk.  “I’ve know the Heffner family for more than 30 years, and we give them all of our love and support at this time.”

Patti, who was a long time girl’s high school basketball coach in the Lehigh Valley, leading Catasauqua High School to the 1988 PIAA Class AA title and Parkland High School to the 2006 PIAA Class AAAA title with Amy on the squad, also won a pair of state championships in 1975 & 1976 as a player at Louis Dieruff High School in Allentown.

When Patti was diagnosed on January 14th, 2009, Amy and her Moravian teammates were ranked 14th in the D3hoops.com Top 25 Poll, 13-1 overall and riding an 11-game winning streak.  Unfortunately, the news shook Amy and her teammates, and the Greyhounds dropped their next game, three of the next six contests and six of the final 14 games they played.  However, Patti was able to watch Amy and Moravian host the first two rounds of the 2009 NCAA Division III National Championship Tournament in Johnston Hall before the season ended at 21-7.

This year, Moravian has posted a 9-2 mark heading into this weekend’s Landmark Conference games at The United States Merchant Marine Academy on Friday evening and at Drew on Saturday.  The Greyhounds, who have worn wristbands with Amy and Patti’s initials and a heart since Patti was diagnosed, are currently ranked 18th in the nation.

Amy has been a key part of the Greyhounds since transferring from NCAA Division II Millersville University prior to the 2008-09 season.  She has seen action in 34 games, starting six, and is averaging 17.7 minutes per game.  Amy is contributing 7.1 points and 4.9 rebounds per game, and she has 30 assists, 26 steals and 18 blocked shots for the Greyhounds.  Amy has not played or practiced with the Greyhounds since she scored a season high ten points in a 74-65 win over Albright College back on December 12th, and coach Spirk is unsure when Amy will rejoin the squad.

Patti was able to attend several of Moravian’s games this season including Amy’s ten-point game versus Albright as well as the Greyhounds’ 51-48 win at DeSales University in which Amy hit five-of-six free throws late in the second half at the basket her mom was sitting under to seal the victory.