Lycoming College

WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. – A fourth-quarter rally helped the Lycoming College women's basketball team pull within seven points, but it couldn't get closer as eighth-ranked Messiah College shot 44 percent from the field to post a 69-58 MAC Commonwealth win on Wednesday night, Dec. 12, at Lamade Gym.
 
Junior Kayla Kline (Mifflinburg, Pa./Mifflinburg) led the Warriors (7-3 overall, 4-1 MAC Commonwealth) with 18 points, six rebounds and two steals and sophomore Erica Lutz (Bernville, Pa./Hamburg) added 17 points, 13 rebounds and three blocks, as she became the 11^th player in school history to reach 50 in a career. Junior Akilah McFadden (Lewisburg, Pa./Lewisburg) added nine points and five rebounds and senior Becca Painter (Elverson, Pa./Owen J. Roberts) added seven points, three assists and three rebounds.
 
Down by 20 after Messiah (10-1 overall, 4-0 MAC Commonwealth) scored the first bucket of the fourth quarter, the Warriors scored 13 points in a row, with a 3-pointer from Painter making it 58-51 with 4:52 left. The Falcons were able to hold off the rally, though, using an 8-2 run to take a 13-point lead with two minutes left. The Warriors cut the lead back to eight before three Falcon free throws rounded out the scoring.
 
Messiah jumped out to 16-8 lead in the first quarter while holding Lycoming to one field goal in the period and shooting 41 percent (7-of-17) from the field. In the second period, the offenses opened up a bit, with Lycoming shooting 47 percent (7-of-15) and drawing within six points a pair of times, but Messiah closed the quarter on a 17-8 run to take a 37-22 lead into the break.
 
In the third quarter, the Falcons took their largest lead of the game at47-24 with 6:53 left before the Warriors cut it back to 13 with a 12-2 run. Messiah headed into the fourth, though, with an 56-38 lead.
 
The Warriors shot 37 percent (19-of-52) from the field, but were able to take advantage of transition, holding a 17-6 advantage in points during the game.
 
Alecia Rohrer led the Falcons with 23 points and 13 rebounds. Maci Thornton added 15 points, seven rebounds and five steals, Kristen Smoluk added 11 points and four steals and Eleana Eckley posted 10 points and four assists.
 
The Warriors get back on the court on Saturday, Dec. 15, when they head to Widener University for a 1 p.m. MAC Commonwealth tip.