Messiah holds off Knights 68-60

Box Score
GLENSIDE, Pa.: Down by one with 5:15 to play, Arcadia University came up short of an upset over visiting Messiah College, dropping today's Commonwealth Conference women's basketball game 60-68. Junior Angie Adams led the Knights with 23 points, a game high, on 6 for 9 from the floor, including 4 of 6 from long-range.

With today's win, the Falcons laid claim to the number two seed for the league playoffs, improving to 18-4 overall and 9-2 in the Commonwealth. Arcadia drops to 3-19 overall and 0-12 within the league.

The Knights jumped out to a 3-0 start after Adams was fouled on a three-point attempt and never seemed rattled through the ensuing five lead changes over the opening ten minutes. Neither team was able to create distance on the scoreboard thanks to solid defensive play from both squads as the game teetered on one-possession until the Falcons went ahead by four (19-15) on two made free throws from Dori Gyori inside the ten minute mark.

The Knights hit a dry spell, missing their next 8 from the floor and Messiah took advantage, taking a 23-15 lead with 6:15 to play in the first half. Not having scored since the 11 minute mark, Arcadia finally got a bucket from Adams at 6:10 making it just a 6 point difference with Messiah up 23-17. A turn-around jumper at 3:15 from Jackie Law put the Knights within four (25-21) but Messiah's Chelsea Danel drained a three-ball and Gyori went inside for two at 1:57 to put the Falcons on top by ten, 31-21 before heading into the locker room with a 35-25 lead.

Although the Knights would out-score the Falcons by two in the second half, the team's free-throw shooting could have provided an extra boost down the stretch, but Arcadia finished just 16 of their game high 27 attempts. Adams, who finished 7 for 10 at the line, sank two in the early going of the second, and followed by a jumper from Christine Taylor with another three ball at 18:05 to cut Messiah's lead to five (37-32). The Falcons went inside for their next three, climbing back out to an 11 point lead (43-32) at 16:54.

Arcadia responded with big plays from Roukas, Law and Adams and Law finished off an and-one at 13:03 to make it a one-possession game (45-41). Again the Falcons went up by 7 and again the Knights had an answer, this time, climbing back to within one with baskets in the paint from Victoria Mazzeo, Taylor and Law. Clinging to a 49-48 lead, Messiah got the spark they needed, as Taylor Miller cleaned up the offensive glass on a miss by Gyori and then took a pass from a steal by Kira Maier and laid in the fast-break with 4:20 remaining. Danel added two free throws at 3:55 that gave Messiah a 61-52 lead. The Falcons went up 14 in the closing minutes before Adams drained two final shots from distance in the final :30 to cap the Knights' respectable 8 point defeat.

Gyori finished with 17 points, 10 rebounds and 4 blocked shots to lead Messiah. The Falcons also got scoring from Miller who scored 15 points and dished out 4 assists while Maier added 11 points and 10 rebounds.

In addition to Adam's 23 point outing, Arcadia got 10 points and 9 boards from Roukas and 11 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists from Law. Messiah ou-tshot the Knights 43% - 40% from the field while the Knights controlled the glass 43-38.

Arcadia travels to Albright College looking to notch a victory within the Commonwealth this Wednesday, Feb. 15 at 6 p.m. before closing out the 2011-12 season at home this Saturday against No. 17 Lebanon Valley College on senior day.

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