Grantham, Pa. (Jan. 11, 2023) - Messiah University (6-0, 13-2) survived a final push by Alvernia University (10-6, 5-2) in the final five minutes as the Falcons came away with a 56-48 win over the Golden Wolves on Wednesday night in MAC Commonwealth women's basketball action at Alvernia. 

In a game that saw several extended scoreless periods by both sides, Messiah was able to hang on despite a five minute period without a field goal to end the game. Alvernia got within five with 1:11 to play after trailing by 15 with five minutes to play. But, Messiah was able to hold off the push to improve to 6-0 in MAC Commonwealth play.

Messiah got out to an 8-0 start to open the game, but Alvernia went on a 7-0 run of its own to make it a one point game, 8-7, with 4:18 to play. Alvernia's run included a Kayla Williams jumper to put the Golden Wolves on the board, a 3-pointer from Taliyah Malone, and another layup from Williams to bookend the run and bring Alvernia within one. 

The Falcons pushed their lead back to four, 11-7, over the next two minutes, but a Jordyn Ingelido free throw and Wessels layup brought Alvernia back within one, 11-10. Messiah then went on a quick 5-0 run and appeared to be poised to take a 15-10 lead into the second quarter. But, Wessels had other plans and knocked down a late three to make it a two point game, 15-13, going into the second quarter.

A Tyra Robinson layup for Alvernia opened the second quarter for Alvernia and evened the game up at 15-15. Alvernia tied the game up again at 17-17 two minutes later on a Williams driving layup with 7:41 to play in the first half.

Alvernia and the Falcons traded possessions for the next three minutes.

With Alvernia trailing by just two, 26-24, following a layup and and-one free throw by Kramer, the Falcons went on a 9-1 run over the next two minutes to take a 35-25 lead on Alvernia with 30 seconds to play in the first half. But, Meghan Ruth hit a layup off the feed of Malone to make it a 35-27 lead in favor of the Falcons going into the half.

Messiah had four straight turnovers to open the second half, but the Golden Wolves could not capitalize as both teams went scoreless for the opening nearly four minutes of the second half. Two made free throws by Messiah opened the second half scoring and pushed Messiah's lead to 37-27 with 6:24 to play in the third quarter. The Falcons added two more on a Falcon jumper to make it a 39-27 lead.

Alvernia's defense held strong in the first five minutes of the second half, holding the Falcons to seven points in 5:15 as Messiah built its lead to 42-25. But, Alvernia was held scoreless during that span and did not score its first point of the second half until the 4:30 to play mark in the third quarter. A layup from Kramer ended Alvernia's scoreless drought, and a Malone 3-pointer 30 seconds later brought Alvernia back within ten, 42-32. 

After another two minutes of scoreless action on both sides, Alvernia scored the final points of the quarter on a nice move by Kayla Williams to get a floater off in the paint to make it a 45-36 game in favor of the Falcons with ten minutes to play. 

The Falcons hit a 3-pointer off a steal to open the fourth quarter and make it a 12 point contest, 48-36 with 9:34 to play. A minute later, Messiah hit another three to push its lead to 51-36 with 8:33 to play as the Falcons held Alvernia scoreless to open the fourth. 

Alvernia was held to just two made free throws by Malone in the opening six minutes of the fourth quarter. But, Messiah only scored eight as the game stayed within reach, 53-38. 

A 3-pointer by Karmonick with 4:06 to play marked Alvernia's first field goal of the fourth quarter and brought the Golden Wolves within 12, 53-41. 

A second 3-pointer by Karmonick with 2:25 to play brought Alvernia within single digits, 53-44, as Messiah went without a bucket for three minutes and counting. As Messiah's scoring drought continued to drag on, Alvernia kept chipping away. A Malone layup brought Alvernia within seven, and a Wessels layup on Alvernia's next possession brought Alvernia within five, 53-48, with 1:11 to play.

After Wessels converted a driving layup and appeared to draw the and-one to make it a potential two point game, the officials overturned their initial decision and called Wessels with a charge to give the Falcons the ball with 28 seconds to play.

Alvernia was forced to start fouling the Falcons, and Messiah scored three more points on foul shots for the 56-48 final. The Golden Wolves held the Falcons without a field goal for the final 5:08.

Alvernia's defense forced 26 turnovers by the Falcons, but Alvernia was only able to score 16 points off of those 26 takeaways. 

Malone led Alvernia with 10 points and five assists. Ruth finished with a team-high five boards. 

Alvernia is back in action on Saturday hosting Hood College.