BETHLEHEM, PA - Stephanie Seaman scored 18 points to lead #20 Moravian College to a 70-41 win over Franklin & Marshall College in the title game of the 2006 Moravian Starters Winter Classic Tournament at Johnston Hall.
One of 12 Greyhounds players to score, Seaman hit seven-of-13 from the field, including one-of-three from beyond the arc, and three-of-three at the free throw line with seven rebounds, one assist, two blocks and five steals to earn tournament Most Valuable Player honors.
She was joined on the All-Tournament team by teammates Kelly Applegate (14 points, 10 rebounds, three assists) and Jenny Hackleman (six points, five rebounds, three blocks, four steals). For F&M, point guard Dana Johns (Sr., York, PA/Eastern York) was honored with All-Tournament honors as she finished the game with 11 points, four rebounds, three assists and three steals.
Franklin & Marshall (3-6, 1-2 Centennial Conference) opened the game with the lead as guard Christy Strunk (Sr., Pittsburgh, PA/North Allegheny) and forward Brittany Braxton (So., Pearl River, NY/Nanuet) made lay-ups at 17:06 and 16:32 to go ahead 4-0. Moravian went on a 9-0 run fueled by three foul shots and a lay-up by Seaman and a pair of lay-ups by Applegate for a 9-4 lead. The Diplomats countered as Strunk stroked a jumper and guard Sarah Meisenberg (Fr., Severna Park, MD/Severn School) put in back-to-back lay-ups for a 10-9 advantage with 12:01 left in the first half
Moravian (11-1) took the lead for good as LaToya Blake made a pair of free-throws to go ahead 11-10 with 11:39 left on the clock as the points started a 15-4 run to go in front 22-14 with 3:37 left in the half.
The Greyhounds outscored F&M 10-6 over the last three minutes of the half to lead 32-20 at halftime.
Moravian sealed the game with a 10-0 run to open the second half to go ahead 42-20 as the Greyhounds rolled to the 29 point victory.
For F&M, Meisenberg scored a team high 12 points, pulled down four rebounds and corralled three steals, while Strunk added seven points.
The loss drops F&M to 10-20 all-time against Moravian as the Diplomats and Greyhounds split the last two meetings with Moravian picking up an 81-68 win on January 23, 2003 in Bethlehem and F&M edging Moravian 72-70 on January 17, 2002 in Lancaster.
Franklin & Marshall College will return to the Lehigh Valley on January 10 to continue the season and square off with Muhlenberg College. Game time is set for 6:00 p.m.
