Reading, PA — What a difference two days can make.
Less than 48 hours after dropping a 60-63 loss at Alvernia University, Messiah returned to the city of Reading, Pa. and handed host Albright College a 62-48 defeat — securing the number two seed in the upcoming Commonwealth Conference Tournament as a result.
The Falcons will next host Widener University in one of the league tournament semi-finals Wednesday evening, with top-seeded Lebanon Valley College hosting fourth-seeded Alvernia University in the other.
Messiah head coach Mike Miller wasn't worried about any of that Saturday afternoon, however, as a free-spirited approach from his team helped to a start-to-finish lead over the Lions — Messiah's fourth win in a somewhat topsy-turvy six-game stretch.
“We had a very good practice Friday,” Miller said. “I'll just leave it at that. But both it and today were great responses after a loss. Obviously, we can't lose another game to see if we'd respond well again, but we just played freely today. We communicated well. We just looked a lot more comfortable playing the game (than we did Thursday).”
Messiah's collective relaxation was apparent in the team's start, as Miller's squad jumped out to a 9-0 lead — rarely pausing to look back. Albright (8-16, 4-10) canned a pair of free throws to stop the bleeding at the first half's 16:28 mark, but another Falcons' 9-0 push made it an 18-2 affair six and a half minutes in.
The Lions slowly whittled things to a 21-10 margin with just under seven minutes to go before the intermission, but a 7-0 Messiah push regained a 28-11 lead with 5:04 to play, a surge capped by a jumper from sophomore Anna Walker.
When freshman Kira Maier scored a post bucket off a pass from classmate Jordan Seiz with 48 seconds remaining in the opening period, Messiah (21-4, 11-3) had its largest lead of the game at 36-17.
While a free throw and layup from the Lions would cut things to a 36-20 difference immediately before the break, it was simply too little, too late.
Miller's group controlled the opening five minutes of the second half, maintaining a 47-33 lead with 15:03 to play.
Albright's best chance came in the ensuing moments, as the Falcons missed their next five shots from the floor, committing five of their total 24 turnovers as well.
The Lions could only cut things to a 50-48 difference before Messiah got back on track, however, scoring eight straight points to regain a 58-42 lead with 5:57 to go.
A total of only eight points were scored over the game's final five and a half minutes, as Messiah hung on for the eventual 14-point win.
Statistically speaking, the difference again came at the free throw line, an area that the Falcons could not control in their Thursday loss to Alvernia. Saturday, however, Messiah made 22 of 26 charity tosses (84.6 percent) while Albright could only produce eight makes in 14 tries (57.1 percent).
Messiah's numbers were the second-highest in both makes and attempts in a single game this season.
“We really attacked the rim today, and we did a much better job of offensive rebounding, which led to fouls,” Miller said. “We played really well, in the entire game, really. We just had an offensive lull in the second half and they made some shots to cut into the lead, but we withstood it.”
Freshman Dori Gyori again led the way offensively, scoring a game-high 17 points to go with five rebounds, three blocks and a steal. Senior Julie Henninger scored 13 points, while Seiz and junior Michele Schleich each scored eight.
Messiah assisted 13 of its 19 baskets on the day. Seiz led that front with five helpers.
“And they were real assists,” Miller said. “People were drawing two people, dishing. It wasn't just ball movement around the perimeter. We were good today. Everybody played freely. Julie might not have had a misstep the whole game. Dori was great from the outset. But really, everyone played great. They all deserve kudos.”
By virtue of Messiah's win — along with Saturday's other league results — the Falcons learned they would host Widener University in Wednesday's Commonwealth Conference Semi-Final, a team Messiah has hosted in each of the last three seasons in this round.
Widener shocked the top-seeded Falcons by a 60-57 score in last year's conference semi-final, forcing Messiah to obtain an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament.
Miller said while a few of his players remember that game, the majority of his team does not.
Only two of Messiah's 13-person roster played in that contest.
“Yeah, we've faced (Widener) three times in a row, but we're a different team,” Miller said. “It will be a new experience. These kids have taken ownership of the program. I'll sleep well tonight and worry about Widener starting tomorrow.”
Messiah will host the Pride Wednesday night in Brubaker Auditorium. Game time is slated for a 7 p.m. start. Ticket prices are $6 for adults, $4 for seniors and $2 for all students. Children under the age of six are admitted free.
