Grantham, PA — The final score was but a minor detail Thursday night in Brubaker Auditorium, as the Messiah women's basketball team never trailed in a 79-67 win over Juniata College.
Ranked 18th in the latest USA Today/ESPN Top 25 Coaches Poll and 17th in the most recent D3hoops.com rating, Messiah (6-2) connected on three of its first four shots from the field en route to an early 10-2 lead. Things would balloon to 16 points at halftime and to 22 points in the second period, as Juniata (4-6) simply could not keep pace.
“I thought tonight was good for us,” said Mike Miller, Messiah head coach. “We were able to utilize some concepts that we've been practicing offensively, and everyone stepped in and played well. We needed a home game before the (holiday) break, and I was pleased with how we played. A game like this makes life better for the next few weeks.”
Playing on Brubaker's floor for just the third time this season and first since a 61-34 win over Ursinus College Nov. 22, Miller's squad looked eager to shake off a two-game losing skid. A mid-range jumper from senior Sal Shani opened the contest just 14 seconds in, while a missed three from classmate Katie Kalb would be the Falcons' only misstep in the contest's first four and a half minutes. Shani scored a layup in transition to make it a 4-0 game with just under two minutes gone, while a steal by senior Christa Wenrich led to a breakaway layup for Kalb just 10 seconds later.
Another fast break putaway from senior Ashley Brooks made it an 8-2 affair with 16:41 to play in the first half, while a jumper from Wenrich made it 10-2 at the 15:47 mark.
Juniata would get back-to-back buckets to pull within four points (10-6) at the 14:48 moment, but an 11-2 Messiah run over the game's next three and a half minutes opened up a 21-8 advantage. The visiting Eagles would get no closer than eight points through the intermission, thanks largely to Messiah's expertise from beyond the arc: The Falcons made seven of 11 first-half tries from deep (63.7 percent), led by sophomore Angie Rapchinski's four of five effort. Miller's team led 41-25 at the break.
Little changed in the final 20 minutes of play, as Messiah would go four of nine from three-point land en route to an 11 of 20 performance overall (55 percent), setting season-best marks in both makes and percentage. Rapchinksi buried her only attempt of the second period, putting her final three-point numbers at five of six.
A 12 of 23 performance from the field (52.2 percent) kept Juniata at bay for the duration, as Messiah opened up its largest lead (72-50) with seven minutes to play. The Falcons' edge dipped only slightly in the waning moments, as Miller experimented with differing lineups against Juniata's starting five late.
“When we had to stop runs, we made plays,” Miller said. “It was good to get everyone quality playing time, especially (freshmen) Karolena (Szolack) and Anna (Walker). They've earned the right to be on the court because of their commitment to us in practice. They've been wonderful.”
Kalb finished with a career-high 22 points, going eight of 19 from the floor. Rapchinski notched 17 thanks to her deft shooting from deep, while Brooks (14 points) and Shani (11) gave Messiah four double-figure scorers for the first time this season. Miller's team was outrebounded by a 41-24 difference, however, the program's worst discrepancy on the boards since the 2006-2007 season.
“That's the only aspect of the night that I wish was better,” Miller said. “We have something to challenge them with when we get back.”
Messiah will now take a two-week layoff over the holidays, returning to competition over the weekend of Jan. 2-3 at the Springfield College Naismith Classic. Following a 50-59 loss to then top-ranked Kean University last Wednesday and a 64-70 defeat at #16/#18 DeSales University last Saturday, Miller said he's pleased to be in the position he's in.
“I love where we're at right now,” he said. “With the schedule that we have, and everyone we lost from last year's team … to be 6-2 right now and to be getting better each time out, I'll take it. Having to play a month without a home game, having to deal with final exams this past week, the girls need a break. That's why this one was so important.”
Messiah will face Skidmore College in the second of two games Friday, Jan. 2 at 3 p.m. Salve Regina University will meet up with host Springfield at 1 p.m. in the tournament opener. Saturday's consolation game is set for a 1 p.m. tip-off with the championship game slated to begin at 5:30 p.m.
