Offaly’s Moran on tear for St. Joe’s of Philly

By John Manley

The honors keep coming for Susan Moran. The St. Joseph’s (Pa.) senior from Tullamore, Co. Offaly, was named Most Valuable Player of the Hawk Classic, which St. Joe’s won, and was recognized as the Atlantic 10 Conference’s women’s basketball player of the week for the week ending Dec. 29.

The Hawks disposed of Morgan State, 99-51, in the first round of the Hawk Classic. Moran led the way with 29 points, hitting 13 of 19 from the field and 3 of 5 from the foul line. She also clamped nine rebounds, dished out four assists and recorded four steals.

St. Joe’s and Moran held onto the momentum with an 89-51 thrashing of Georgetown in the championship game. Moran’s 16 rebounds represented a career high. She also poured in 22 points on 6-for-11 from the field and 10-for-12 from the foul line. She broke the school record for career free throws made during the

game and is now the record holder with 478, as well as for attempts, with 601.

St. Joe’s then treated Richmond in like fashion, winning 87-66. Moran led all scorers with 25 points on 9-for-15 from the floor (including 1 of 1 from

long distance), and 6-for-6 from the foul line. She also had 10 rebounds and three assists. The Hawks are 10-2.

Women’s basketball

Manhattan College’s Siobhan Kilkenny recorded her first collegiate double-double in the Lady Jaspers’ 66-59 loss to Canisius. The Castlebar, Co. Mayo, junior threw in 14 points on 6-for-10 from the floor and 2-for-2 from the foul line. She also reeled in 11 rebounds. Before the holidays, she took down 10 rebounds in a 66-58 loss to South Florida. She had seven points and four assists in that game. Kilkenny’s tenacity accounted for six steals in a 66-63 overtime victory over Stetson. She added seven points to the Manhattan cause, had five rebounds and three assists. The Lady Jaspers are now 6-6 overall and 1-2 in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference.

Iona’s Michelle Fahy led the Gaels with eight rebounds in a 71-57 loss to Marist. The Galway sophomore scored four points on 2-of-7 shooting. Iona then improved to 2-9 with a 73-61 victory over Loyola, Md. Fahy scored four points, hitting 1 of 3 from the floor and 2 of 2 from the line. She grabbed one rebound in this game.

Men’s basketball

Azusa Pacific is on a roll. The Cougars won the Charles Mills Classic in Alabama with a 79-68 win over Faulkner, the defending NAIA champion, which has ended Azusa’s season in the nationals each of the last two years. Azusa’s senior center, Gary Dredge, grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds, while chipping in 10 points on 3-for-6 shooting from the floor and 2-for-2 from the line. The Clondalkin, Co. Dublin, resident was held to one point and four

rebounds in Azusa’s 82-67 semifinal win over Auburn-Montgomery. The Cougars then returned home to California, where they defeated Los Angeles State, 68-62. Dredge had 6 points (2-5, 2-6) and 10 rebounds.

Azusa then improved to 12-2 with a 93-84 victory over Fresno Pacific. Dredge poured in 11 points, hitting 5 of 6 field goal attempts and 1 of 3 foul shots. He also had five rebounds, two steals and one blocked shot.