Interactive Bracket
Grantham, PA - For the first time since the 2007-08 season, Messiah College women's basketball is heading to the "Sweet 16." This weekend, the Falcons will take on a familiar foe, Widener University, in hopes of playing on Saturday for a chance to go to the Final Four.
Messiah and Widener are set to tip-off at 6:00 p.m. on Friday, Mar. 8, at Amherst College in Amherst, Mass. Doors will open at 5:10 p.m. The game will be followed by Amherst College and Tufts University, with Friday's winners to play on Saturday at 7:30 p.m.
All games this weekend will be
streamed live here, with the Messiah games also on
radio here.
See below for a snapshot of each team, and be sure to see the Statistics Comparion table at the bottom of the page.
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No. 16/No. 19 Messiah College Falcons |
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Location: Grantham, PA
Coach: Mike Miller (27th season, 518-202 at Messiah)
2012-13 Record: 25-4, 16-2 Commonwealth Conference
NCAA Tournament Appearance: 15th
2012 NCAA First Round: 84-51 win over Lancaster Bible
2012 NCAA Second Round: 78-70 win over William Paterson
Last NCAA Appearance: 2011-12 Second Round loss, 53-50 at Mary Washington
How the Falcons got here: Messiah is appearing in their 14th-straight NCAA Championships Tournament, and their third-straight way of an at-large bid. Messiah lost to Lebanon Valley in the Commonwealth Championship 46-43 after defeating the Dutchmen twice during the regular-season. Their only other losses this season were to No. 1 DePauw and conference rivals Elizabethtown and Widener. |
The Falcons stormed past Lancaster Bible last weekend before pulling away late for a win over William Paterson in the Second Round. Messiah is in the “Sweet 16” for the first time since 2008. In those two games, Gyori is averaging 19.5 ppg and 10.0 rpg while Maier is averaging 17.5 ppg and 10.0 rpg.
Conference Player of the Year Dori Gyori leads Messiah with 17.3 ppg and 8.8 rpg on 51.8% shooting. She's collected 12 double-doubles this season and is complemented well by her forward-partner Kira Maier (10.4 ppg, 6.6 rpg). On the perimeter, Taylor Miller (10.3 ppg, 3.4 apg), Nicky Hess (8.8 ppg, 3.4 apg), and Chelsea Danel (8.6 ppg, 3.5 apg) have combined to make 131 three's on 33.5% shooting.
Messiah's bench has also been a strength this season, as no starter averaged over 30 minutes per game.
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Widener University Pride |
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Location: Chester, Pa.
Coach: Alisa Kinter, 9th season (144-98 at Widener)
2012-13 Record: 23-5, 16-2 Commonwealth Conference
NCAA Tournament Appearance: 4th
2012-13 NCAA First Round: 56-52 win over FDU-Florham
2012-13 NCAA Second Round: 57-56 win over Catholic
Last NCAA Appearance: 2008-09 First Round, 67-56 loss to Rochester (N.Y.)
How the Pride got here: The Pride have won a program-record 23 games this season, and advanced into the “Sweet 16” for the first time in team history. Their victory over FDU-Florham in the First Round was a first in the NCAA Tournament for any women's team in University history. To prove it was no fluke, Widener upset No. 9 Catholic in Second Round on a driving layup by senior Vanessa Hejnas (8.0 ppg, 4.8 rpg). |
Falcons fans are sure to be well-acquainted with Widener, as the teams have faced each other 11 times in the past four seasons. Messiah holds an 8-3 record over that time, but Widener has won two of the last three games dating back to last season.
The team is led by First Team All-C'Wealth performer Kate Dellinger (11.9 ppg, 9.1 rpg) and Jennifer Egee (11.9 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 66 made 3PT FG). Dellinger led the Pride with 15 points and 16 rebounds in their win over Catholic last weekend.
Lil Carney averages 10.1 ppg and 4.1 apg. Carney scored 26 points—including the final nine—in Widener's overtime win over the Falcons this season, and recently scored 16 points in the Pride's win over FDU-Florham. Joanna Persiano (49 made 3PT FG, .422 3PT) is also a threat for Widener on the perimeter.
Snapshot History of Messiah and Widener
Messiah's All-Time Record: 38-8
Last Game Played: Feb 12, 2013 – Widener 75, Messiah 69 (OT)
Current Streak: Widener, 1 win
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No. 4/No. 6 Amherst College Lord Jeffs |
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Location: Amherst, Mass.
Coach: G.P. Gromacki, 6th season (314-49 at Amherst)
2012-13 Record: 28-1, 9-1 New England Small College Athletic Conference
NCAA Tournament Appearance: 6th
2012-13 NCAA First Round: 67-39 win over Farmingdale St.
2012-13 NCAA Second Round: 71-34 win over Univ. of New England
Last NCAA Appearance: 2011-12 Semifinalist (4th place overall), 87-60 loss vs. St. Thomas
How the Lord Jeffs got here: Amherst is in the “Sweet 16” for the sixth-straight season, is looking to get back to the Final Four for the fifth-straight year. Last weekend, the Lord Jeffs conceded just 73 total points in two blowout wins. |
Amherst started the season with a 22-game winning streak before losing to conference rival Williams. They rebounded from that defeat by winning six more—all by at least 15 points.
Guard Marcia Voigt (12.8 ppg, 4.2 apg, 4.0 rpg) and forward Megan Robertson (12.5 ppg, 8.7 rpg) lead a balanced attack for the Lord Jeffs, with forward Bridget Crowley (9.9 ppg, 6.9 rgp) and guard Jasmine Hardey (9.3 ppg, 37.4 3PT FG) also capable of filling up the stat sheet. Crowley has led Amherst in both NCAA wins, averaging 17.5 ppg and 10.5 rpg.
Though working with only 10 players on their roster, Amherst has seven players averaging more than 17 minutes per game, and they're holding opponents to just 46.7 ppg this year.
Snapshot History of Messiah and Amherst
Messiah's Record: 0-0
Last Game Played: n/a
Current Streak: n/a
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No. 9/No. 11 Tufts University Jumbos |
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Location: Medford, Mass.
Coach: Carla Berube, 11th season (212-74 at Tufts)
2012-13 Record: 25-2, 9-1 New England Small College Athletic Conference
NCAA Tournament Appearance: 5th
2012-13 NCAA First Round: 57-32 win over St. Lawrence
2012-13 NCAA Second Round: 53-35 win over Babson
Last NCAA Appearance: 2011-12 Sweet 16, 50-47 loss vs. St. Thomas (Minn.)
How the Jumbos got here: The Jumbos arrive in the “Sweet 16” for the second-straight-year and third time in program history. Tufts defeated St. Lawrence and No. 14/No. 16 Babson in the first weekend of the NCAAs. Impressively, the Jumbos have allowed just 65 total points so far in this year's NCAA Tournament. |
The Jumbos are looking to defeat Amherst after falling 54-48 in early Feb. during NESCAC play—just one of two losses this season. Guards Hannah Foley (5'10”) and Kate Barnosky (5'9”) lead the team in scoring at 11.9 and 9.0 ppg, respectively. Foley is also shooting 37.4% from 3PT range, while Barnosky leads the team with 6.5 rpg.
Six players average at least 6.3 ppg for the Jumbos, including forward Hayley Kanner (8.7 ppg) who has scored 11 points in each NCAA game last weekend. The Jumbos' defense is also a juggernaut, as opponents are scoring just 42.7 ppg on 28.8% shooting this year.
Snapshot History of Messiah and Tufts
Messiah's All-Time Record: 2-0
Last Game Played: Mar. 15, 2008 – Messiah 55, Tufts 49 (“Elite 8”)
Current Streak: Messiah, 2 wins |
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Statistics Comparison - Messiah, Widener, Amherst, and Tufts |
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Team |
FG |
FGA |
FG % |
Opponent FG % |
3FG |
3FGA |
3FG % |
Opponent 3FG % |
FT |
FTA |
FT% |
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Messiah |
716 |
1678 |
0.427 |
0.364 |
142 |
441 |
0.322 |
0.297 |
370 |
538 |
0.688 |
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Widener |
723 |
1880 |
0.385 |
0.357 |
183 |
540 |
0.339 |
0.309 |
372 |
570 |
0.653 |
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Amherst |
685 |
1709 |
0.401 |
0.326 |
160 |
498 |
0.321 |
0.303 |
344 |
479 |
0.718 |
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Tufts |
601 |
1585 |
0.379 |
0.321 |
137 |
415 |
0.330 |
0.288 |
288 |
404 |
0.713 |
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Team |
O-Reb |
D-Reb |
Total Reb |
Asst/Game |
TO/Game |
Opponent TO/game |
Team PPG |
Opponent PPG |
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Messiah |
11.7 |
25.3 |
37.0 |
16.4 |
14.7 |
21.6 |
67.0 |
50.5 |
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Widener |
17.7 |
28.9 |
46.6 |
16.4 |
18.1 |
23.1 |
71.5 |
58.0 |
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Amherst |
14.6 |
28.0 |
42.6 |
14.6 |
13.9 |
17.1 |
64.6 |
46.7 |
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Tufts |
13.9 |
25.0 |
38.9 |
12.9 |
12.0 |
19.8 |
60.3 |
42.7 |
