2008 Woodie Awards
Moran honored by Hawks
Ireland native has number retired
Kathleen Radebaugh '08
Issue date: 2/27/08 Section: Sports
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Three days ago, Moran, a native of Tullamore, Ireland, was able to celebrate that moment again and all her achievements as a basketball player as Saint Joseph's University retired her # 10 jersey during a pre-game ceremony before the Hawks played Atlantic 10 rival George Washington.
The Athletic Department surprised Moran with this ceremony and honored her with the singing of the Irish national anthem. Now hanging in Alumni Memorial Fieldhouse is Moran's banner, looking over the court she called home for four years as a player and five years as an assistant coach.
Moran graduated from St. Joe's with 2,340 points and holds seven other school records, including career marks for free throws and field goals made. In that same game against Xavier, it was Moran's free throws that tied Hodge's record. Moran ranked fourth in the nation, averaging 23.3 points per game in her last season on Hawk Hill, and started all 122 games in her career.
Some of Moran's best games came during her junior and senior years, as she was the leading scorer and rebounder for four consecutive seasons. She played two of her strongest games on her home court against conference rivals. In January 2001, Moran posted 36 points against Duquesne, defeating the Dukes 81-69 in front of a crowd of 3,200 for "Fieldtrip to the Fieldhouse Day," sponsored by the Philadelphia Inquirer and the Daily News.
One month later, Moran led all scorers and recorded her fourth double-double within five games against Fordham. This was the Hawks' largest victory of the season, 89-55, as Moran finished with 26 points and 10 boards. This win earned Saint Joseph's a fifth place finish in the conference and a first round bye in the A-10 Tournament.
Moran's play during February of her senior year was probably her most exciting and career changing time as a Hawk. Starting in early February by breaking Hodge's record, she scored 33 of her career-high 38 points in the second half comeback win against St. Bonaventure two weeks later. Moran's performance against the Bonnies was unprecedented due to the 15-point halftime deficit and not scoring for the last seven minutes of the first half.
Moran's last game at the Fieldhouse was a win in the opening round of the WNIT against Siena, 84-55. She posted 25 points, followed by teammate and current Saint Joseph's Director of Basketball Operations Stephanie Graff, '04, adding 19 points and going 9-9 from the floor.
For Moran, basketball is what she did well. She trusted her shots and skills in defense and, in turn, her teammates and coaches trusted her. She found her footing on the court at Alumni Memorial Fieldhouse and because she had such a strong foundation, she was able to go beyond City Series and Big Five rivals.
In April of her senior year, Moran participated in the WNBA pre-draft camp. The New York Liberty signed her to a free agent contract in May and made the team's final roster for the upcoming season but was on the squad's injured reserve list due to a hip injury. Playing in Barcelona in Spain's professional ranks recharged Moran, but she was cut in pre-season for the WNBA the next year.
Moran returned to Hawk Hill in between her time in the professional ranks. Now, she is in her fifth season as an assistant coach for the Hawks, mainly in charge of recruiting.
Philadelphia is a long way from her home in Tullamore, but Moran's talents have always crossed oceans and continents. Her foundation as a great basketball player grew stronger at Saint Joseph's and she is now able to share those talents and not gifts not just with a banner hanging over the court, but in team huddles, at 4 p.m. practices, and in reshaping the tradition of Saint Joseph's basketball in next year's starting players.
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