Greyhounds Set to Host 22nd Steel Club Classic on December 29-30
BETHLEHEM, Pa. --- The Moravian University women's basketball team is set to host the 22nd Steel Club Classic in Johnston Hall on December 29-30.
BETHLEHEM, Pa. --- The Moravian University women's basketball team is set to host the 22nd Steel Club Classic in Johnston Hall on December 29-30. The tournament was held for 13 consecutive years before taking two years off after a change in the Landmark Conference schedule. The tournament resumed in December 2016 but was cancelled in 2021 due to the pandemic. The tournament was also held twice in the calendar year of 2022 in both January and December.
The host Greyhounds are 34-8 all-time in the Steel Club Classic with 11 tournament titles. The University of Mary Washington (Va.) and Cedar Crest College are making their second appearances in the tournament while Brooklyn (N.Y.) College is making their tournament debus. The Eagles and the Bulldogs will open the tournament on Monday at noon while the Greyhounds and the Falcons tip-off at 2:00 p.m. The consolation game is set for 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday followed by the championship contest at 1:00 p.m.
Moravian heads into the tournament with a record of 2-6 and a 1-3 slate in Landmark Conference action. Greyhounds' Head Coach Mary Beth Spirk is in her 38th season.
The Greyhounds are being led by junior guard Lizzie Lustig, who is averaging 14.5 points and 4.8 rebounds per game to go along with 17 assists, eight steals, four three-pointers and a blocked shot. Senior guard Juliana Vassallo is netting 8.8 points per contest with 15 rebounds, nine three-pointers, seven assists, five steals and a blocked shot while sophomore guard has averages of 7.8 points and 2.0 rebounds per outing to go with 18 assists, three steals and five three pointers.
Sophomore guard Kylie Cabana is contributing 5.3 points and 3.5 rebounds per game with nine assists, five steals and four blocked shots while senior guard Jayda Cartagena is adding 4.8 points per contest with six rebounds, six assists, six steals and six three-pointers. Junior forward Grace Steffen leads the Hounds with 5.8 rebounds and 4.3 points per contest to go with 14 steals, six blocked shots and a pair of assists while sophomore guard Ellie Wallbillich has 32 points, 25 rebounds, ten assists and ten steals.
Sophomore forward Lanie Herbert has posted 35 rebounds, 31 points and three steals while freshman guard Abby Hayes has 17 points, six rebounds and five blocked shots and sophomore guard Mallory Elias has 20 rebounds, 16 points, 11 assists and six steals.
Brooklyn College from Brooklyn, New York comes to Bethlehem with a 7-3 record. The Bulldogs compete in the City University of New Yoork Athletic Conference and are 2-0 in conference play this season. Brookyn is headed by Megan Campbell, who is in her first season.
Senior guard Anna Kitch leads the Bulldogs with averages of 11.9 points and 12.7 rebounds per game to go along with 21 assists, 14 steals, eight three-pointers and three blocked shots while junior guard Brianna Jackson is adding 10.7 points and 3.9 rebounds per contest with 68 assists, 41 steals and nine three-pointers. Senior guard Dior Dorsey is posting 9.4 points and 5.2 points per outing to go with 27 assists, 26 assists and seven blocked shots while senior center Shelly Quezada is recording 9.5 rebounds and 8.5 points per game to go along with 21 steals, 19 blocked shots and six assists.
Freshman guard Adunoluwa Akinduyl leads Brooklyn with 11 three-pointers to go with 8.2 points per contest, 39 rebounds, 17 steals and ten assists while sophmore guard Ameea Daniel is netting 5.8 points per outing to go with 19 rebounds, seven steals, a trio of three-pointers and a pair of blocked shots. Senior guard Victoria Kantzian is posting 5.0 points per game with nine assists, six steals, six three-pointers and five boards.
Freshman guard Aaliyah McCalla has contributed 40 points, 12 rebounds, 11 steals, ten assists and three three-pointers while sophomore forward Danae McMullen has 36 rebounds, 29 points, 14 steals, three assists and two blocked shots. Freshman forward Ariel Williams has added 25 points, 18 rebounds, seven steals and four assists while senior guard Cheyenne Castellanno has 21 points, five boards and a trio of three-pointers.
Cedar Crest College, located in Allentown, Pennsylvania, enters the tournament with a 5-4 record. The Falcons play in the United East Conference and are 0-2 this winter. Cedar Crest is headed by Jason Rhine, who is in his first season.
Sophomore guard Ella Bincarosky leads the Falcons with averages of 14.7 points and 3.9 rebounds per game to go with 24 steals, 13 assists and 31 three-ppinters while junior guard Analyse Rios is contributing 14.0 points and 3.9 rebounds per contest to go along with 29 assists, 20 steals, ten three-pointers and a pair of blocked shots. Junior forward Weronika Swojak is posting 10.7 points and 11.3 rebounds per outing to go with three assists, three steals and two blocked shots while junior forward Samora Merchant has averages of 10.6 points and 9.8 rebounds per game to go with 13 blocked shots, seven steals and three assists.
Sophomore guard Ginger Kerdock is adding 6.3 points and 6.0 rebounds per contest with 40 assists, 39 steals and six three-pointers while freshman guard Gabrielle Moore has 31 rebounds, 29 ppints, 18 steals, six three-pointers and three assists. Freshma guard Brooke Leonardi has posted 22 points, 16 rebounds, ten steals and a trio of assists while freshman guard/forward Hailey Wolbeck has 19 points, 31 rebounds, seven assists and five steals and junior forward/center Megan Perrine has recorded 31 rebounds, 13 points, 11 blocked shots, six steals and five assists.
The University of Mary Washington is located in Fredericksburg, Virginia and comes to Bethlehem with 2-10 record. The Eagles compete in the Coast-2-Coast Athletic Conference and do not play any regular season conference games, just a postseason tournament with schools spread across the country. Mary Washington is led by Deena Applebury, who is in her 32nd season.
Sophomore center Juliona Mable leads the Eagles with averages of 8.6 points and 5.1 rebounds per game to go along with nine steals, eight assists and three blocked shots while junior guard Jenna Steadman is contributing 7.9 points and 4.0 rebounds per contest with 24 assists, nine steals, nine three-pointers and five blocked shots. Junior forward Maddy Jenisch is contributing 7.6 points and 5.1 rebounds per outing to go along with 25 assists, 14 steals and 15 three-pointers while senior center Rileigh Weaver is adding 7.5 points and 4.4 rebounds per game to go with 16 assists, seven steals and five blocked shots.
Sophomore guard Dylan Wood is netting 6.3 points per outing with 18 rebounds, ten three-pointers, five assists, five blocked shots and three steals while freshman guard Emma Terry has 59 rebounds, 47 points, 17 assists, 12 steals and six three-pointers. Freshman forward Julianna Fisher has recorded 46 points, 30 rebounds, nine assists and three steals while freshman forward Ainsley Phillips has posted 44 points, 36 rebounds, nine steals and five assists.
Sophomore guard Mackenzie Wharton has 33 points, 15 rebound and eight three-pointes while sophomore guard McKenna Huff has 28 rebounds, 22 points, nine assists and four steals. Freshman guard Cheyenne Sweeney has 14 points, 19 rebounds, seven assists, a trio of three-pointers and two steals while freshman forward Hannah Warschaw has 11 rebounds and three points.
