XML Box Score Reading, PA – Messiah College ended their regular season play this afternoon with a win at Alvernia University 72-45 and find themselves in a three-way tie for the best Commonwealth record (14-4).
 
The Falcons will hold the No. 3 seed for the playoffs, as Messiah split with Elizabethtown but lost both their matchups this season to Lebanon Valley. Lebanon Valley will be the No. 1 seed and Elizabethtown the No. 2.
 
Although the Falcons had already clinched a spot in the playoffs before today's game at Alvernia, there was a chance to be the No. 2 seed and host semifinals. Leading the Falcons to the 27-point win in Reading was Gillian Glackin with 19 points and seven rebounds.
 
The senior guard duo of Chelsea Danel and Taylor Miller also showed up to play against the Crusaders, each collecting 11 points and combining for 11 assists.
 
In total, the Falcons shot 50.9% from the field, 50.0% from three-point range, and 80.0% from the charity stripe. It is the first time all season that the team has shot at least 50% in both field goals and three pointers.
 
The Falcons' defense appeared to be too much for the Crusaders, forcing tough shots and blocking 12 of those in the game. Both Hannah Nichols and Danel swatted away four Crusader shots.
 
Alvernia held the advantage in points off turnovers, with 25 compared to Messiah's 18. Messiah though, bested Alvernia's efforts in points in the paint (30-20), second chance points (15-9), fast-break points (8-4), and bench points (21-10).
 
Messiah led the game all the way from the beginning to the end and held their biggest lead of the game at the finish. All around the court, the Falcons played a great game to end the regular season on and carry into the Conference playoffs.
 
The Falcons will begin their Commonwealth playoff run this Wednesday, Feb. 26, when they will visit Elizabethtown for the second time this year. 

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