PHILADELPHIA, Pa. — The Lycoming College women's basketball team led after three quarters, but decisive fourth-period surge by Moravian University helped it to a 51-36 win in Landmark Conference action on Saturday evening, Jan. 11, at the historic Palestra.
 
Moravian (4-9, 2-4) used a big fourth quarter to pull away from Lycoming (5-8, 1-5) in what was a tight game nearly the entire way.
 
The first half was a defensive battle. After only six total points were scored in the first five minutes, the Warriors took the lead when senior Kami Abdo (Pottsville, Pa. / Nativity BVM) connected on back-to-back three-pointers to put Lycoming ahead, 8-4. Moravian answered with a 7-0 run, but the Warriors scored the final three points of the quarter to even the score at 11 apiece. In the second period, the defenses clamped down even more. Lycoming held Moravian scoreless for the first 6:16 of the quarter, with the Warriors stretching their lead to five on a three-pointer from sophomore Summer Emlet (New Cumberland, Pa. / Red Land) at the 5:49 mark. That was the final field goal of the half for Lycoming, though, with the Greyhounds scoring five straight points to tie the game. Abdo did connect on a free throw with 5.7 seconds remaining in the half to give the Warriors a 17-16 lead at the break.
 
Moravian jumped out to a quick start in the third quarter, using a 12-2 run to open up a 28-19 lead nearly six minutes into the half. Lycoming, though, roared back, using a 13-0 run highlighted by a three-pointer from senior Allison Fisher (Pinehurst, N.C. / Burrell) to regain the lead with 44 seconds in the quarter. Two more free throws stretched the lead to four before Moravian scored the last two points of the period, making it 32-30 after three quarters.
 
The Greyhounds, though, started strong in the fourth. A putback from senior Alyssa Reisinger (Kulpmont, Pa. / Mount Carmel Area) closed the gap to 39-36, Moravian, with 7:10 left, then Moravian scored the final 12 points of the game.
 
Abdo led the Warriors with nine points on 3-of-6 shooting, including a pair of three-point makes. Fisher scored five points and pulled down a team-high eight rebounds. Junior Ann-Marie McMurtrie (Centre Hall, Pa. / Penns Valley) scored four points with seven rebounds and a team-high four assists. Emlet chipped in five points and three boards, while sophomore guard Jocelyn McCracken (Jersey Shore, Pa./Jersey Shore Area) added four points and four rebounds.
 
Julianna Vasallo led Moravian with 17 points, while Lizzie Lustig added nine points and eight rebounds.
 
The Warriors will look to bounce back on Wednesday, Jan. 14, against the second-ranked University of Scranton at home. Tip-off from Lamade Gym is scheduled for 7 p.m.