GRANTHAM, Pa. - With a 54-36 victory over the Alvernia Golden Wolves on Saturday afternoon, the No. 8 Messiah women's basketball team won their 19th-straight game to tie a program record for consecutive victories. After a slow start to the opening quarter, Messiah steadily built their lead to claim the comfortable victory.
 
Maci Thornton led the Falcons with 17 points while Alecia Rohrer grabbed her 15th double-double of the season with 12 points and 12 rebounds. The Falcons shot 23-of-58 (39.7%) from the field, but struggled from deep range (16.7%) and from the free-throw line (41.7%). Defensively, Messiah took care of business, holding the Golden Wolves to just 36 points and causing 20 turnovers.

Slow Start
Messiah didn't score their first basket until the 4:14 minute mark in the first quarter when Alecia Rohrer connected on a fast break lay-up to take a 2-1 lead. Rohrer then scored on back-to-back possession to extend Messiah's lead to five points (6-1). The Golden Wolves finished the quarter outscoring the Falcons 6-3, including a mid-court buzzer beater, but Messiah held onto a 9-7 advantage going into the second quarter.

Solid Second Quarter
The Falcons finally found their rhythm in the second quarter and dominated, outscoring the Golden Wolves 17-6. Messiah shot an impressive 66.67% (8-of-12) from the field in the second quarter. The Falcons opened on a 9-0 run over the Golden Wolves. Alecia Rohrer got things going with a jumper in the point, followed by a layup from Grace Cryan. Megan Zimmerman found Alecia Rohrer posting up and Rohrer collected her eighth bucket of the game, and Maci Thornton finished the Falcons' scoring spree with a three-pointer (18-7). Midway through the quarter, Alvernia knocked in a pair of free-throws for their first points in the second quarter. Messiah then launched off on to a six-point run to pull ahead 24-9. The teams traded baskets at the end of the quarter and the Falcons went into halftime with a 26-13 lead.

The Falcons' defense was outstanding in the second quarter, they held Alvernia to just six points; shooting 1-of-8 (12.50%) from the field and knocking in 4-of-6 free throws (66.67%).

Series of Runs
The third quarter was very equal as each team scored 14 points. Alvernia started the half hot and collected six-consecutive points to bring the Falcons lead down to seven (26-19). However, Eleana Eckley ended the Golden Wolves' run after connecting on an old-fashioned three point play. Alvernia scored back-to-back layups to once again chip away at Messiah's lead but the Falcons responded on a 9-0 run to pull ahead 38-23. Maci Thornton, Eleana Eckley, Alecia Rohrer, and Haley Maraday all contributed on the scoreboard during this scoring run in the middle of the quarter. Once again both squads exchanged buckets at the end of the quarter with Messiah on-top 40-27 heading into the fourth and final quarter.

Falcons Win 19-Straight
Messiah soared to victory in the fourth quarter, outscoring the Golden Wolves 14-9. Alvernia opened up the quarter and brought Messiah's lead down to 11 points after a fastbreak layup, however Maci Thornton connected on her third three-point field goal of the game to bring the Falcons' lead back up to 43-29. Midway through the quarter, Messiah went on a 9-to-3 scoring run past the Golden Wolves to secure their 19th straight win 54-36.

Up Next
Messiah moved to 19-1 overall and 11-0 in the MAC Commonwealth with their win over Alvernia. The Falcons will look to set the program record for consecutive victories on Wednesday when they host the Stevenson Mustangs at 6:00 p.m. on Jordan Court in Hitchcock Arena.