By Keaton Kasiguran, GoMessiah.com reporter
Grantham, PA — Heart-breaking losses can prove bitter, and they aren't easily forgotten. Messiah's women's basketball team learned that the hard way last year when they lost to fourth-seeded Widener University 57-60 in one of the Commonwealth Conference Semi-Finals in Brubaker Auditorium.
Saturday, Messiah put any talk of a repeat loss to bed before the first half was even close to be finished, going on to defeat the Pride convincingly by a score of 74-39.
The margin of victory was the second lopsided score line in as many games, with Messiah coming off a near school-record performance Thursday at Baptist Bible College, winning 88-24.
The Falcons, ranked 17th in both the latest USA Today/ESPN Top 25 Coaches Poll and D3hoops.com Top 25 Poll, started things off by scoring the game's first 13 points Saturday, led by freshman forward Dori Gyori, freshman guard Nicky Hess and junior forward Michele Schleich. The Falcons' defensive pressure, led by sterling senior guard Julie Henninger, kept the Pride scoreless until the 15:28 mark in the first half, as Widener missed its first three shots from the floor while committing three turnovers.
“Runs are important at any point in a game,” Messiah head coach Mike Miller said of his team's quick start. “We had been struggling offensively with slow starts a bit this year, so it was great to get on a run early today.”
Messiah put together another impressive run to end the half, outscoring Widener 15-4 to turn a 19-13 contest into a 34-17 lead at the break. A post bucket from Schleich sparked that push, as the Falcons limited Widener to just 1-7 shooting from the floor over the period's final 9:23, forcing the visitors into another eight turnovers — en route to equaling a season-high 34 on the afternoon.
In the second period, the Falcons allowed their depth and youth to take center stage, with nine different players registering points. Messiah's depth and youth have been integral parts of their success so far this season, and it was no different tonight.
“We don't talk about being young too much,” Miller admitted. “We know some people look at youth as an excuse when things don't go your way, but our youth has been very important to us and has provided us with great depth.”
Solid play from the freshmen unit of Gyori, Hess, guards Jordan Seiz and Julia Groves and forward Kira Maier prevented the Pride from ever getting back into the contest. A layup from Gyori made it a 25-point game (49-24) midway through the half, while Messiah led by as many as 37 points in the waning moments.
Not to be outdone, however, were veterans Henninger and Schleich. Henninger finished the game with 19 points, four rebounds and four steals, while Schleich turned in 15 points, six boards, and three takeaways.
The Pride turned up the physical play near the end of the game, as Messiah attempted 15 of its total 23 free throws in the second half.
“Our pressure defensively really frustrated them, and some of their younger players were affected and just didn't respond well,” Miller explained. “I was very proud of how we kept our composure. All the players know what we're about on this team, and they did not allow the physical play to get to them.”
Messiah will look to keep its impressive run of play going Wednesday, when the squad takes the floor again at conference foe Lycoming College. Tip-off is scheduled for 6 p.m. in Lamade Gymnasium.
