Grantham, Pa. (Jan. 24, 2026) - Messiah University (13-4, 5-1) used a 21 point third quarter to propel itself to a 57-42 win over Alvernia University (8-9, 3-3) on Saturday afternoon in MAC Commonwealth Women's Basketball action at Messiah University.

The Falcons led by just six points at the half, and Alvernia cut Messiah's lead down to four in the opening minutes of the third frame. But, the Falcons took advantage of an Alvernia scoring drought and pushed its lead up to 12. Messiah went on to outscore Alvernia 21-12 in third quarter and took a 15 point advantage into the fourth quarter. Alvernia never got closer than 11 points in the final ten minutes as Messiah took the 57-42 win.

How it Happened

• Messiah took a 6-0 lead through the first four minutes of action. Both teams then struggled to pick up a point, as Messiah scored just two points of the remainder of the quarter and Alvernia didn't pick up its first points of the game until the 1:13 mark when Taryn Woodson hit a putback jumper. The Falcons took the 8-2 lead into the second frame.
• Messiah opened the quarter with a layup to take the 10-2 lead, but Alvernia scored on a pair of layups from Jennah DeGout and Samantha Wade to close within four, 10-6, through the first two minutes of the quarter. But, Alvernia was then held scoreless for four and a half minutes as Messiah built its lead up to nine, 17-6, with four minutes to go in the quarter.
• A Meghan Ruth layup got Alvernia back on the board, but Messiah pushed its lead to 12, 20-8, on a jumper and made and-one free throw. The Golden Wolves got back within single digits, 20-12, on a DeGout layup and a pair of made free throws by DeGout. DeGout then kept it going and got Alvernia back within six, 20-14, with a putback layup off a rebound by Alani White.
• After a jumper by the Falcons put them back up by eight, 22-14, Alvernia closed out the first half scoring with a Grace Dobrzynski layup to send the game into halftime with Messiah leading, 22-16.
• Alvernia cut Messiah's lead down to four with an opening possession layup by Woodson to start the second half. The two sides then exchanged 3-pointers as Ryleigh Poole knocked down a deep shot for the Golden Wolves to make it a 25-21 game with eight minutes to play in the third. But, Alvernia would be hit with another scoreless stretch as the Golden Wolves went over five minutes before its next point and Messiah built its lead up to 12, 33-21. 
• A Kyla Reed layup put Alvernia back on the board, and a Dobrzynski 3-pointer kept Alvernia within ten, 36-26, with 2:27 to play in the quarter. The Falcons then outscored Alvernia 7-2 to close out the third quarter as Messiah took a 43-28 lead into the fourth quarter.
• The Falcons and Golden Wolves exchanged layups to open the fourth quarter to keep it a 15 point game, and a Woodson free throw got Alvernia within 14, 45-31. After Messiah pushed it to a 16 point game on a pull up jumper, Alvernia scored a quick five points to get back within 11, 47-36, with 4:27 to go. But, Messiah answered with back-to-back 3-pointers to take its largest lead of the game, 53-36, with three minutes to play. Alvernia did not threaten in the final stretch as Messiah came away with the 57-52 win.

Inside the Box Score

• Jennah DeGout led Alvernia with a team-high ten points, and Taryn Woodson finished with ten rebounds and added nine points.
• Grace Dobrzynski finished with eight points, and Jordyn Ingelido had a team-high four steals.

Up Next

• Alvernia is back in action on Wednesday for a 7:00 PM against Eastern. The Eagles picked up their first MAC Commonwealth win earlier today, 68-59.