Grantham, Pa. (Jan. 3, 2015) - Messiah College (6-6, 3-1) scored 11 of the first 13 points of the second half to build a double-digit lead on its way to a 75-58 win over Alvernia University (5-6, 1-2) Saturday afternoon in Commonwealth Conference women's basketball action at Brubaker Gymnasium.

The Falcons got a game-high 16 points from Jen Fairbanks.  The Crusaders were led by Tyra Roberts who scored 12 points to go with nine rebounds.

Messiah led by as many as 11 points in the first half holding a 21-10 lead with 8:29 on the clock.  Roberts scored five straight points to cut the gap to six points and Logan Focht's 3 at 6:03 cut the lead to five points, 23-18.  Freshman Olivia Andrefski hit another 3 in the last minute of the half for a 33-29 Messiah lead at the break.

Messiah started the second half with a putback from Gillian Gacklin and four minutes later another Gacklin layup put the Falcons up 44-31.

The lead remained double digits the rest of the way.

Alvernia continues the conference schedule hosting Hood College on Wednesday.

Messiah 75, Alvernia 58