SCRANTON, Pa. – The Messiah women's basketball team continued their win streak this evening by defeating FDU-Florham in their first game of the Hilton Scranton Poinsettia Classic by a score of 82-72. It was an overall team effort that helped lead the Falcons to victory as six players scored in double digits. Kristen Smoluk and Leah Springer led the team with 16 points each and Springer also collected 11 rebounds. Alecia Rohrer recorded a double-double grabbing 13 boards and scoring 10 points, while Maci Thornton (14), Kaitlyn Hoff (10), and Becca Isaac (10) all contributed to tonight's victory. Jen Fairbanks added five assists in the contest and as a team Messiah shot 30-64 (46%) from the field.
 
The Falcons played strong in the first half going 18-32 (56%) from the field, which led to a 39-27 lead at halftime. With Messiah ahead 6-4 in the first quarter they went on a 5-0 scoring run to extend their lead 11-4. The Falcons led the whole quarter and with a 13-4 advantage Leah Springer knocked down a jumper with 1:43 left to go to give the Falcons 1 15-9 lead and that would be the score after quarter one.
 
Messiah kept the momentum in their favor at the start of the second quarter scoring the first four points as Hannah Brown and Leah Springer both scored buckets. Then later in the quarter at the 2:50 mark, Kaitlyn Hoff made a jumper to give Messiah a ten-point lead 28-18. FDU kept pressing and pull within nine 32-23, but then a three-pointer by Kristen Smoluk put Messiah back up by double-digits 35-23. Towards the end of the second quarter with time winding down Alecia Rohrer made a layup on a fastbreak as the Falcons would have a comfortable 12-point advantage 39-27 heading into halftime.
 
Messiah played well enough in the second half to hold off FDU-Florham, although they didn't' shoot as well going 12-33 (36%) from the field, their strong first half helped them earn the victory. The Falcons kept a nice cushion but the Devils kept on the pressure and eventually pulled within four 43-39, but then Kaitlyn Hoff knocked down two free-throws to put the Falcons up 45-39. Later with Messiah leading by five 49-44, a fastbreak and finished layup by Maci Thornton extended the lead 51-44, and then not long after Kristen Smoluk made two from behind the charity stripe to put the Falcons back up by 11.
 
The Falcons held a ten-point lead after quarter two and right away Smoluk knocked down a jumper at the 9:22 mark of the fourth quarter to give them a bigger edge 57-45. Messiah held a double digit lead the remainder of this game and led by 15 at one point when again Smoluk knocked down a three-pointer at the 7:43 mark to make the score 62-47. Even though the Devils made shots of their own, the Falcons had a response and kept up the defense. With under three minutes remaining Becca Isaac scored from beyond the arc to give Messiah a 74-60 lead and the game was over from then on as the Falcons went on to win 82-72.
 
Messiah is now 9-0 on the year and will now play the University of Scranton tomorrow afternoon at 4:00 p.m. in the Hilton Scranton Poinsettia Classic Championship.