Grantham, PA - The Messiah Women's basketball team defeated the Pride of Widener University 88-51 to remain undefeated on the season. The Falcons are now 14-0 and 5-0 in the MAC Commonwealth Conference. This is the sixth game this season Messiah has scored over 80 points.

Maci Thornton finished the game with 16 points, six assists, and five rebounds. Alecia Rohrer contributed 13 points and eight rebounds, and Gillian Glackin posted her sixth double-double of the year with 12 points and 11 boards. Jen Fairbanks, Kaitlyn Hoff, and Kristen Smoluk each produced nine points. The Falcons had 12 players contribute on the scoreboard and they shot 44% from the field and 40% from the three point line.

Messiah and Widener started the game fairly evenly, exchanging baskets back and forth but Messiah eventually extended the lead to five points (19-14) heading into the second quarter. 
 
Messiah's turning point was when they went on a 10-0 run in the middle of the second quarter.  This run started when post player Alecia Rohrer hit a jumper off Maci Thornton's pass and then the very next possession Gillian Glackin took the ball to the hoop and converted the lay-in. The Falcons continued to extend their lead when Thornton and Glackin both made back-to-back three-pointers to put the Falcons up 37-23 going into half time.
 
The Falcons started the third quarter strong and within the first minute of action Thornton knocked down another shot from behind the arc to extend the Falcons lead to 15. Kaitlyn Hoff and Jen Fairbanks were very effective on the offensive end in the third, both Falcons collecting five of their nine points. Messiah dominated offensively in the second and third; in both quarters combined, the Falcons scored 44 points and held the Pride to 20.

Messiah's bench produced 34 of their 88 points, 18 of those were scored in the fourth quarter. Cora Travaglione had a career high with six points and she collected all of these in the last two minutes of play.
 
The Falcons dominated on the glass with 51 rebounds compared to Widener's 32, receiving 24 offensive and 27 defensive. As previously mentioned, Glackin and Rohrer had 11 and eight boards, respectively, while Thornton collected five and Springer gathered four. Messiah also did an excellent job taking care of the basketball and had only eight turnovers in the entire game. The Falcons were also able to score 27 points off of Widener's 18 turnovers.

Devan Rimmer led Widener with 14 points and Allison Gallagher contributed 10 for the Pride.
 
The Falcons are back in action on Jan. 11 at 6:00 p.m. at Hood College.