BOX SCORE

Reading, PA (Feb. 22, 2014)  - Messiah College (19-7, 15-4) used a 50 percent shooting day from the floor to propel it to a 72-45 victory over Alvernia University (8-18, 4-15) Saturday afternoon in Commonwealth Conference women's basketball action at Jack McCloskey Court.

Messiah opened the game with four points in the first two minutes, establishing a lead that Alvernia would not catch. Shooting only 27 percent in the first half, the Crusaders were able to stay close with the Falcons throughout the first 10 minutes. A jumper by senior Alisa Greco (Long Valley, N.J./West Morris Central) cut the lead to one, but that was the closest Alvernia would get.

With 11:12 left in the first half, Alvernia came within two of Messiah at 13-11 on a layup by Morgan Downs (Lawrenceville, N.J./Lawrence), however the Falcons answered with seven point run. Junior Kaitlyn Yoh (Wernersville, Pa./Conrad Weiser) attempted to stop the run, turning a steal into two points, but the Messiah closed out the half pushing their lead to 15.

The Crusaders increased their shooting in the second half, holding Messiah from increasing their lead until the last 10 minutes of the game. Chelsea Ebersole (Palmyra, Pa./Palmyra) drained a 3-pointer to take the lead down to nine, which Messiah's Taylor Miller responded to with a three of her own.

With 7:04 left in the half, Messiah's Chelsea Daniel broke the lead standstill, raising the Falcon lead to 17.  For the next seven minutes, Alvernia was outscored 18-8.

Yoh was the Crusaders' high scorer with 10, followed by Downs with eight. Messiah had three players in double digits, led by Gillian Glackin with 19.

Alvernia closes the season at 8-18. 

Messiah College 72, Alvernia University 45