Annville, PA – Tuesday night at LVC Gymnasium, host Lebanon Valley College offered a variety of challenges to the Messiah College women's basketball team.
The Falcons had an answer for every one.
Though tested, Messiah led from start to finish in a 74-57 MAC Commonwealth Conference win over the Flying Dutchmen, picking up its ninth straight league victory while mathematically assuring the program at least a share of its eighth consecutive regular-season conference crown in the process.
Lebanon Valley (20-4, 5-4) cut a 10-point halftime deficit to two points early in the second period and had it to a five-point game with 4:41 to play, but Messiah (22-2, 9-0) put on a sick, 14 to nothing run in a span of just three and a half minutes to blow the game open in coasting to victory.
“I put a quote on our locker room board about three weeks ago,” said Mike Miller, Messiah head coach. “It read, 'People don't understand how difficult it is to win.' We've tried to convey that message to our players, and I think they understand. This was a great win for us tonight. All the credit goes to LVC. They played a great game and battled hard. We just happened to make a few more shots at the end.”
Miller's team – which jumped up to fifth in both the latest USA Today/ESPN Top 25 Coaches Poll and the D3hoops.com rankings – actually made shots at a better rate Tuesday than in any contest this season, converting on a season-best 60.4 percent (29 of 48 overall). That effort led to a 37-27 lead at the break, with seniors Nikki Lobach (12 points, four of five shooting) and Amy Reed (11 points, four of six shooting) leading the way.
Still, LVC did not seem to be bothered. A quick, four to nothing burst to open the second period pulled the hosts within a 37-31 difference, while the Flying Dutchmen would go on to score 15 of the half's first 22 points in closing to a 44-42 margin at the 13:59 mark.
Following a timeout from Miller it was the Falcons' defense that began to assert itself, holding LVC scoreless on the team's next three possessions in regaining a 49-42 lead.
The Dutchmen remained within striking distance over the game's next seven minutes, cutting the Messiah lead to five points on three occasions. LVC's Megan Bish buried a baseline three to make the score 60-55, Falcons, with 4:41 to play, and LVC Gymnasium began to rock.
It was at that point that Miller's team delivered a methodical silencer.
Junior Silalei Shani knocked in a contested, mid-range jumper to regain a seven-point lead, while senior Lauren Schurr buried a jump shot off the dribble to make the score 64-55 with 3:53 to play.
As Messiah put the clamps on defensively – LVC came up empty on five consecutive possessions – the Falcons' offense began to click. A driving layup from Lobach preceded back-to-back triples from Schurr, while a driving layup from Shani made it a 74-55 ballgame with just 1:17 to play.
It was the type of run to be expected from a championship-caliber team.
“We've had so many games like this, our pre-conference schedule was so tough, it has helped us,” Miller said. “We've played great down the stretch, so yes (coming out on top of close games) gives you confidence.”
Shani led the offensive front for Messiah, scoring a career-high 21 points – 13 of which came in the second half. Lobach added 18 on a six of 10 shooting effort, while Reed and Schurr added 14 and 11, respectively.
Among the positives on the evening was Schurr's performance, as the senior scored all her points in the second half of play while notching a double-figure tally for the first time since a 17-point performance against Dickinson College on Jan. 5.
“Amy Reed anchored us emotionally and Lauren Schurr was excellent because she just played basketball until it was her turn,” Miller said. “She played very good defense all night, and was ready to shoot shots we expect her to make.”
Even though Messiah leads league rival Albright College (20-4, 8-1) by just a half game following Tuesday's results, the MAC Commonwealth's extended tie-breaking procedures guarantee Messiah the number one seed for the post-season tournament, regardless the outcome of Saturday's Messiah-Albright regular-season finale.
That fact didn't seem to matter much to Miller.
“It should be a fun one Saturday,” he said. “Like I've said before, our team wants to strive for excellence every time out. The scoreboard or the (conference) standings won't affect in how we approach. We'll give it our best effort.”
Messiah will host the Lions in its regular-season home finale on Saturday. Game time is set for 2 p.m.
