BETHLEHEM, Pa. — A double-digit second half lead for the Elizabethtown College women's basketball team almost got away as Moravian rallied over the final eight minutes to nearly steal Saturday's crucial Landmark Conference contest away from the Jays. Rachel Forjan, Krissy Pennell, and Taylor Alwine were all in double figures for E-town.

Moravian (12-11, 8-6 Landmark) wasted no time in attacking Elizabethtown (16-6, 9-5 Landmark) down low with its scoring tandem of Alexis Wright and Alesha Marcks. Two of the top five scorers in the conference, Wright and Marcks each had a layup while the Blue Jays started 0-for-4 from the floor. Pennell found Alwine for E-town's first bucket of the game as they trailed 4-2 early on.

The Jays' defense held the Greyhounds to just 12 points over the first 11:26 of the game. Moravian missed 24 of its first 31 shots as Elizabethtown led 15-12. 14 first-half turnovers for EC allowed Moravian to hang around. Though, despite the sloppiness with the ball, E-town limited Moravian on the offensive end. Marcks, averaging 15.2 points per game, only had two in the first 20 minutes. She put up 30 points in the first meeting between the teams.

Up by four with under a minute remaining in the half, Pennell dished to Alwine, who sank her jumper. Forjan put Elizabethtown up eight, 29-21, with a second left on the clock, knocking down her own jumper. Forjan, Alwine, and Emily Martin combined for 22 of the Blue Jays' 29 first-half points. They also outrebounded Moravian 29-22.

A few early turnovers in the second half and an and-one plus another bucket for the Greyhounds had Moravian back within three, 29-26. E-town showed some resolve and went on a 7-0 run to grab its first double-digit lead of the game. Forjan capped the spurt off with a lay-in after Pennell found the junior cutting toward the basket down low.

Knowing the stakes of the contest, Moravian attacked the offensive glass with reckless abandon. Whenever E-town seemed poised to pull away with the game, the Greyhounds got their hands on missed shots to keep possessions alive. MC had 21 second-chance points and hauled in 17 second-half offensive boards.

Martin came up with one of her four blocks in the game on Wright, grabbed the rebound, and on the other end, Pennell drained one of her two three-pointers to stretch Elizabethtown's lead to the biggest of the game at 14, 42-28.

Moravian wasn't about to let the Jays walk out of Johnston Hall without a fight, but it would be some timely baskets late in the half that would help E-town stymie the Greyhounds' rally.

Marcks, who came alive in the final 20 minutes, hit two free throws that brought the game within six. On the ensuing Blue Jay possession, Nikki Thompson was left alone on the right wing. Pennell picked up on that right away and sent the ball over to her sophomore teammate, who knocked down the trey to push the lead back to nine, 54-45.

Minutes later, Alwine came up with an important basket as Moravian was back within four before the senior's made jumper. Marcks then split a pair at the foul line before Pennell sank her second three of the game to extend the advantage to eight with 4:17 to go.

More offensive rebounds for the Greyhounds and E-town turnovers kept the hosts in the game late. Samantha Caliguiri's layup with 2:21 remaining made it 59-57, forcing the Jays into a timeout. Out of that timeout, Alyssa Aichele, just inside the three-point line, connected on her two-point jumper.

Marcks split another pair of free throws with less than a minute to go with the score 61-58. A turnover on the Jays' end gave Moravian a shot to tie the game on the game's final possession. Caliguiri was fouled on her three-point attempt, but missed all three foul shots. However, E-town couldn't come up with the defensive rebound and the Greyhounds had yet another chance.

Alwine came up with the biggest play of the game on the ensuing in-bounds. Marie Rossignoli last-chance three-pointer was blocked by Alwine. The ball fell to Martin as precious seconds ticked away and Elizabethtown came away with the all-important victory.

Moravian shot 27.5% from the field for the game, the sixth time the Blue Jay defense has held its opponent to less than .300 in a game. E-town is 6-0 when doing so.

Forjan had a team-high 15 points, while Pennell was in double figures (14 points) for the first time in six games. Alwine recorded her first double-double of the season with 12 points and 11 rebounds. Martin nearly had one herself, with eight points, a team-best 12 boards, and four blocks.

The women's basketball team goes from being tied for fourth with Moravian to tied for third with Susquehanna. E-town holds the edge over the Crusaders head-to-head, but have one game remaining against them in the regular season finale. First, though, the Jays will host Drew on Wednesday, February 18 at 7 p.m. The Rangers beat Elizabethtown in their first meeting.