Second half favors Messiah as Knights lose tough league battle 53-38

GLENSIDE, PA: (Jan. 22, 2011) Arcadia University Women's Basketball gave one of the Commonwealth Conference's top three teams a run for their money this afternoon but did not have the second half shooting accuracy needed to pull off the upset as the Falcons of Messiah College came out on top 53-38. The Falcons improve to 10-6 overall and 5-2 in league play while the Knights drop to 6-11 overall and 1-6 through the first half of play on their Commonwealth schedule.

After seven ties and four lead changes in the first half, Arcadia entered the locker room tied with Messiah at 21-all. After two straight losses, Arcadia looked to be back to the form displayed during their defeat of Lycoming College last Saturday on Alumni Court. Outshooting the Falcons from everywhere in the first half, Arcadia forced Messiah into their offense and limited many outside shots. Also working to the Knights favor was the presence of Jackie Law '14 on the glass. Law finished the first with 8 of her game high of 15 board, all coming on the defensive end.

The Falcons would jump out to a 9-2 start over the first six minutes of the second but the Knights chipped away and erased a seven point Messiah lead down to two off a three pointer from Christine Taylor '12 and a 12 footer from Krista Hsu '14 during the twelve minute mark, making the score 30-28 Falcons. But Nicky Hess drained one from long range shortly following the start of a 22-10 run for Messiah that seemed to knock the wind out of Arcadia's sails. During the run that eventually ended with Messiah winning 53-38, only two field goals fell for Arcadia, scoring 6 of their ten points across the final dozen minutes at the foul line. Meanwhile, Messiah rebounded from an off first half shooting performance with 20 of their final 22 points scored from the field.

Taylor led the Knight's scoring with 10 points while Angie Adams '13 contributed 7 points, 7 rebounds and 3 steals. Also scoring 7 was Corrine Geiger '11 who added 5 rebounds and went 5-6 from the line. Christie Kershaw '14 would finish with 6 points, 5 boards and 3 steals with Hsu rounding out the Knights top point-getters with 6. Messiah was led by Dori Gyori's double-double (14 pt., 11 rb.), while Tremaine Simmons finished with 12 and Hess 11 points, 5 boards and 5 steals.

Arcadia was out-shot from the field 35.7% - 25%, went just 2-15 from long range and hit 50% (14-28) of their free throws.

The Knights are looking to snap a three game skid on Thursday at non-conference Valley Forge Christian College. The second half of the Commonwealth schedule begins a week form today on the road at Lebanon Valley College.

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