Former Dunmore standout leads Penn State Lady Lions

Posted on December 4, 2024 by The Dunmorean

By Steve Svetovich

Former Dunmore standout Moriah Murray has seen her minutes increase to the point she is playing a key role for the Penn State Lady Lions this season.

Moriah, a sophomore, has quickly become one of the leaders on a team that won its first five games at press time.

Daughter of Joe Murray and Lynn Tugend, she scored 23 points in Penn State’s 100-55 win over Monmouth University on Sunday, November 17. She hit on 7-of-14 of her 3-point shots and added three steals and two assists in the win.

She scored 28 points in Penn State’s 90-68 opening night win over Bucknell Monday, November 4. Moriah hit on 8-of-16 of her 3-pointers and added four rebounds, three steals and an assist.

She scored 26 points in Penn State’s third win of the season at the hands of Duquesne University, 92-83, Sunday, November 10. She hit 6-of-10 of her 3-point shots and added four rebounds in 35 minutes.

Moriah scored 17 points in the Lady Lions 104-45 win over Niagara University Thursday, November 14. She hit on 5-of-10 of her 3-point shots and added two rebounds, two assists and a steal.

The sophomore stalwart is averaging close to 20 points per game for the season, with a 47.1 field goal percentage.

Even more important, Moriah is improving with every game.

“I really grinded in the off season,” Moriah said after pouring in 26 points in the win over Monmouth. “It’s a credit to my coach Carolyn Kieger. She worked with me. She prepped me for the season. She helped build my confidence and that’s what changed from last year.

“Coach Kieger is a great person. She has given me the confidence to feel comfortable on the court. She wants me to take 15 total 3-pointers a game. She’s given me the green light and my 3-point shot is on now.”

The hard-working sophomore guard is not surprised by Penn State’s fast start. “There are a lot of freshman players on the team this year. There are only four returning players. It’s like a new team. My teammate Alli Campbell and I have taken on leadership roles. We came into the season very prepared and are playing very well as a team.”

The former Dunmore standout said the goals are high at Penn State. “We take things day-by -day, but want to improve every game. Our goal is to win the Big 10 title and go as far as possible in the tournament that follows. We want to win it all.”

Moriah said she stays in constant touch with Ben O’Brien, her former coach at Dunmore who now coaches the University of Scranton Lady Royals. “He just texted me,” she said. “He texts me after every game. He was a big part in my development as a basketball player. I wouldn’t be where I am today if not for him.”

Moriah is studying Elementary Education at Penn State. Her goal is to become a teacher and she doesn’t rule out coaching or even continuing a basketball career at some level after her collegiate career is over. “I will consider those things later,” she said. “But right now I still have two years after this one to,play basketball at Penn State. I want to concentrate on this now and in the next couple years.”

And the scholar-athlete loves Penn State. “It’s close to home,” she said. “It’s like family here. I have so many more friends here, even outside of basketball. It’s going great.”

Moriah enrolled at Drexel University during the summer semester of 2022, but did not play for the Dragons.

She sat out the 2022-23 season after joining the Penn State program following the fall semester due to NCAA mid-season transfer regulations.

She played at Dunmore under coach O’Brien, a 2004 Penn State graduate.,

Moriah was named to the All PIAA AAAA team, All-Region First-Team and All-League Three First-Team every season. She was selected Times-Tribune Player of the Year as a freshman and senior.

She helped lead Dunmore to a 95-5 record, including three District 2 titles, four Lackawanna League Division 3 titles and an appearance in the 2019 state championship game.

She finished as Dunmore’s record holder for 3-pointers in a season with 87 and career with 279. She shot 52 percent from 3-point range and 89 percent from the foul line in four years.

She averaged 17.3 points, 8.0 rebounds and 6.1 assists per game as a senior and 20.2 points in 10 career state playoff games.

Moriah was also a standout pitcher and shortstop as a softball player at Dunmore.,

Her two older sisters, Ashley and Courtney, played basketball at Marywood University.

Moriah played in all 35 games for Penn State last season. She averaged 4.3 points per game in 12.5 minutes per contest, but this year is playing a much more significant role as her minutes have more than doubled. She has quickly become one of the standout members of the team. And it’s only getting better.

Lions Club Honors Students at Scholarship Dinner

Posted on July 6, 2022 by The Dunmorean

The Dunmore Lions Club recently held its 41st Annual Scholarship Award Dinner at La Buona Vita Restaurant in Dunmore.

Honored with Penn State Scholarships were Joseph Cardillo of Dunmore High School and Molly Landsiedel of Holy Cross High School.

Also, honored with monetary gifts were Dunmore High School Male Scholar/Athlete-Kevin Walsh and Female Scholar /Athlete-Moriah Murray and Holy Cross High School Male Scholar/Athlete-Nick Cabets and Female Scholar/Athlete- Kaitlyn Farrell. Remarks were made by Chris Lucas,Dunmore High School’s Assistant Principal, and Alexa Bravis, Holy Cross High School counselor.

Presentations of awards were made by Lion President Elect Sam Sebastianelli Sr., and Past President Jim Aita. Lion Gino Tempesta served as dinner chairman and Lion Michael Colangelo offered invocation.

Lion Justin Patchcoski served as Toastmaster and congratulated all award recipients, not only for the great honor they received, but to be at such an exciting time in their life. Further commenting, he added, “ I was thinking back to this time last year and how different, yet similar things, were. Just like last year’s class, I’m sure you’ve all made sacrifices throughout your academic careers, your perseverance and ambition are admirable, but I promise you’ll all look back on this night and all the wonderful memories of your high school athletic and academic careers often and fondly”.

This is the 70^th year the Dunmore lions have been serving the community of Dunmore.

Moriah Murray Scores 1,500th Career Point for Dunmore

Posted on March 2, 2022 by The Dunmorean

By Steve Svetovich

Dunmore senior Moriah Murray scored 14 points including the 1,500th of her career, in the Lady Bucks District 2 Class 4A semifinal win over Nanticoke, 69-9, Saturday, Feb. 26, at Dunmore. The 1,500th career point came with 58.3 seconds left in the first quarter.

Standout center Ciera Toomey scored 14 points for Dunmore. Senior guard Mia Bume scored 11 points. Sophia Talutto added 10 points.

Moriah hit on two 3-point shots in the dominant win.

Dunmore defeated Berwick, 53-16, in the Class 4A quarterfinal.

Daughter of Joseph Murray and Lynn Plotkin, Moriah is averaging 14.5 points per game for the Lady Bucks this season.

“The 1,500th career point felt great,” she said. “But I wasn’t really focusing on it. I don’t really think about points when I am playing. I just think about winning the game.”

The senior point guard talked about why the Lady Bucks were so successful against Nanticoke.

Overall, we played one of our best defensive games of the season. Our season ended last year when Nanticoke didn’t want to play us due to COVID. It cost us a chance at a championship. So we really wanted to beat them. And now we can go on to the district title game. We want the district title.”

Moriah talked about what it takes to excel at the point guard position in high school basketball.

“It takes a lot of practice and you need to know a lot of plays. You need to know your team on the floor. You need to control your team on offense.”

Moriah, a four-year starter on the Lady Bucks basketball team, is a member of TACT, SADD and the French Club. She played on the Dunmore softball team last year.

The talented senior will play basketball next season at Drexel University in Philadelphia. She is currently undecided about a major. She will play basketball with her good friend Kylie Lavelle who recently scored her 1,800th career point for Riverside. “We are real close,” Moriah said. “We played on travel teams together. I am really excited about playing with her next year.

“Playing college basketball has always been one of my major goals. I am just so excited about the opportunity.”

Confident and hard working, Moriah said her immediate goal is to help Dunmore win the district title and then go after a state championship this season.

Moriah was selected Lackawanna League first team all-star, All Region and All State three years in a row leading into her senior season. She was Lackawanna League Player of the Year and All Region Player of the Year as a freshman.

Moriah said her parents taught her to “never give up.”

She said Dunmore veteran basketball coach Ben O’Brien taught her a lot. “He taught me so many things about the game of basketball. The most important thing he taught me was that hard work pays off.”

Moriah said she loves to listen to music in her spare time and would like to see Roddy Rich, Rhianna, and Travis Scott in concert.

She has thoroughly enjoyed her Dunmore experience as the final months of her senior year approach.

“There is nowhere better than Dunmore,” she said. “Nothing could compare.

“It is a very close knit community. Dunmore is one big family, especially our basketball team. Our team is so close. We have been together since biddy basketball. We would not win without our great team chemistry. We are all best friends, both on and off the court.”