Reading, Pa. (Feb. 5, 2025) - Messiah University (18-2, 9-0) secured the regular season sweep of Alvernia University (11-9, 5-4) on Wednesday night with a 70-50 win over the Golden Wolves in MAC Commonwealth Women's Basketball action. 

The Falcons led 17-10 through the first quarter, but then outscored Alvernia 18-4 in the second to take a 35-14 lead in the half. Alvernia outscored Messiah in the second half, 36-35, but the Falcons came away with the 70-50 win.

How it Happened

• The Falcons got out to an early 9-0 lead through three minutes of action, but Alvernia got on the board with 6:45 to play on a driving layup from Jennah DeGout to make it a 9-2 game. 
• The Falcons led 15-4 later in the quarter, but a pair of made 3-pointers got the Golden Wolves within seven, 17-10 with 1:42 to play in the opening frame. Neither team scored the remainder of the quarter to send the game into the second with Messiah leading, 17-10.
• The Golden Wolves and Falcons traded points to open the second quarter, but the Falcons shut Alvernia down in the final seven minutes of the half. Messiah outscored Alvernia 16-2 in the remainder of the second quarter, with Alvernia's two points coming off a steal and layup from Kyla Bradford. Messiah took the 35-14 lead into the half.
• Both teams traded free throws to open the third quarter before Messiah knocked down back-to-back jumpers to take a 41-15 lead 2:20 into the second half.
• Alvernia got within 13, 43-20,  with 6:26 to play on an Olivia Burke layup and Aaliyah Ferrer 3-pointer. But, the Falcons went on a 13-4 run over the next three minutes to push their lead to 32, 56-24, with 2:44 to play in the third.
• Alvernia closed out the quarter on an 8-0 run to close within 24, 56-32, to head into the fourth. DeGout finished with four points during the run, and Paige O'Brien and Nicole Etchison each had two.
• Messiah continued to hold the 24 point lead, 60-36, with 7:45 to play. But, Alvernia held Messiah scoreless for nearly three minutes and closed within 15, 60-45, with 4:50 to play. But, a 3-pointer from Messiah's Charlotte Millanesi got the Falcons back on track with 4:32 to play. The Falcons held at least an 18 point lead the rest of the way and came away with the 70-50 win.

Inside the Box Score

• Olivia Burke finished with a team-high 15 points. Jennah DeGout also finished in double figures with 12 points off of 5-for-9 shooting. She also had a team-high seven rebounds.

Up Next

• Alvernia takes on York on the road on Saturday. The Golden Wolves took the first meeting back in January, 59-51.