GRANTHAM, Pa. – Freshman Kayla Kline (Mifflinburg, Pa./Mifflinburg Area) led the Lycoming College women's basketball team with nine points, but MAC Commonwealth preseason favorite Messiah College shot 46 percent from the floor to post an 83-42 win in the conference opener for both teams on Wednesday, Nov. 30, at the Brubaker Auditorium.
 
Sophomore Jenn Grove (Chambersburg, Pa./Chambersburg Area) added seven points and six rebounds and sophomore Becca Painter (Elverson, Pa./Owen J. Roberts), junior Hailey Fricke (Denver, Pa./Garden Spot), freshman Hailey Dayton (Reisterstown, Md./St. Timothy's) and junior Haley Sipple (Boothwyn, Pa./Chichester) each finished with four points for the Warriors (4-2 overall, 0-1 MAC Commonwealth).
 
Messiah (5-0 overall, 1-0 MAC Commonwealth) jumped out to an 11-0 lead in the first four minutes of the game and led by 20 at 25-5 by the end of the first quarter and led at the halftime break, 45-15. The Falcons were able to build the lead thanks to an aggressive offense that shot 43 percent from the field, hit five 3 pointers and all 14 of its free throws.
 
In the second half, the Warriors shot 33 percent from the floor, but Messiah continued to shoot well, closing the game by shooting 63 percent in the fourth quarter and expanding the lead to as many as 47 points.
 
The Falcons finished 46 percent (29-of-63) from the floor and hit all 16 of its free throws and nine 3-pointers in the game. They held a 28-6 advantage on points off turnover, as Lycoming was forced into 22 miscues.
 
Maci Thornton led the Falcons with 19 points and Alecia Rohrer and Jen Fairbanks each posted 10 points. Gillian Glackin finished with 10 rebounds and four assists and Rohrer also added four assists and three steals.
 
Freshman Akilah McFadden (Lewisburg, Pa./Lewisburg Area) finished with three assists, four rebounds and a steal for the Warriors.
 
The Warriors will look to get back on track on Saturday, Dec. 3, when they host Hood in a MAC Commonwealth game at 1 p.m. in Lamade Gym.