GLENSIDE, Pa. – The Arcadia University women's basketball team dropped a 67-48 decision to Messiah Wednesday night at Alumni Gymnasium. The Knights fell to 3-5 on the season and 0-2 in MAC Commonwealth play, while the Falcons improved to 8-0 overall and 2-0 in conference play.
HOW IT HAPPENED: The teams traded baskets over the game's first 3:39, until the Falcons took control with a 12-0 run to open a 16-6 lead with 3:36 left in the opening frame. Layups from senior
Maureen Fiocca and
Imani Alston put a stop to the run, pulling the Knights within six before the visitors netted the quarter's final five points for a 21-10 lead after 10 minutes of play.
After Messiah extended its lead to 14 just under three minutes into the second quarter, the Knights stormed back with the next nine points to pull within five at 28-23 with 3:54 to go until halftime. Sophomore
Susan Bossler scored the first five points of the run on a pair of free throws and a three. The teams went back and forth the rest of the quarter with a Bossler three being the only scoring difference to send the game to the break with a score of 34-30 in favor of the visitors.
Messiah came out of the half and scored 13 of the first 16 points of the third quarter to push its lead back to 14. The Knights were unable to rebound as the Falcons led by as many as 22.
ARCADIA LEADERS: Bossler led all scorers with 18 points on 6-7 shooting from the field, including 4-5 from beyond the arc. Alston and sophomore
Sammy Downham each added nine points, while Alston led the team with five rebounds and eight assists.
MESSIAH LEADERS: The Falcons were led by Jen Fairbanks with 15 points on 6-8 shooting. Gillian Glackin recorded a double-double with 12 points and a team-best 10 rebounds. Kaitlyn Hoff (12) and Maci Thronton (10) also reached double-figures.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS: After shooting 46.2% (12-26) in the first half, Arcadia finished the game shooting 35.4% (17-48), including 5-18 from distance, and converted 75% (9-12) from the free throw line. The Falcons shot 52.7% (29-55) for the game, but just 7-24 (29.9%) from three, while making 2-3 free throws. Messiah outscored the Knights 32-18 in the paint and 17-5 on second chance points.
