BOX SCORE Reading, Pa. (Dec. 8, 2018) - Messiah College (9-1, 3-0) scored the first six points of the game and led throughout a 66-31 win over Alvernia University (3-6, 0-4) Saturday afternoon in MAC Commonwealth women's basketball action at Jack McCloskey Court.

The Falcons shot 36 percent from the floor and hit just 2-of-18 3-point attempts, but forced 25 turnovers and held the Golden Wolves to 24 percent from the floor.

Messiah jumped out to a 6-0 lead and held a 11-6 lead after the first quarter.  Alvernia got all six of its points from the 3-point line in the first quarter with Janelle Robinson knocking down a 3 and Gabriella DeVito hitting from long range with 11 seconds left in the quarter.

Messiah's defense forced 10 Alvernia turnovers in the first quarter, but the Falcons shot just 25 percent from the floor (4-for-12).

Devito scored the first bucket of the second quarter to pull Alvernia to within three at 11-8, but Messiah was able to build on its lead by halftime outscoring Alvernia 17-13 in the quarter for a 28-19 lead at the break.  Messiah went 5-for-11 from the floor in the second and got eight points from Maci Thornton. Alvernia was led by DeVito at the half with nine points.

Messiah built its lead to 20 points, 42-22, with just over two minutes left in the third quarter and held a 45-23 lead after three.

DeVito finished with a team-high 14 points.  Messiah put four players in double figures led by Alecia Rohrer who scored 15.

Alvernia continues the season next Saturday at Gwynedd-Mercy.

Messiah 66, Alvernia 31