Grantham, PA (December 10, 2005) – One year ago the DeSales University women’s basketball team defeated a Messiah College basketball team ranked second in the nation by 27 points in Billera Hall and this year the 13^th ranked Falcons got revenge defeating the Bulldogs, 74-32, in Grantham, PA on Saturday evening.

 

        The loss snaps a three-game winning streak for the Bulldogs as DSU falls to 4-5 overall on the young season.  The win improves Messiah to a perfect 8-0 overall.  DSU shot just 21.6 percent for the game, while the Falcons canned 48.1 percent of its shots.  MC forced 20 Bulldog turnovers and out-rebounded DSU, 44-30.

 

        Messiah jumped out to a 37-13 lead at the half and never looked back.  The Falcons converted 55.6 percent of its shots in the first half, compared to DSU’s 16.7 percent.  In the second half, MC matched its first-half total with 37 tallies, while DSU managed 19 points.

 

        Freshman Erica Sovak (Tuxedo, NY/George F. Baker) had a team-high six points and a team-high five rebounds in the loss.

 

        Messiah was led by Eli Cook who recorded a double-double with 16 points and 11 rebounds.  Cook added five assists, three steals and two blocks.  Ashley Brooks came off the bench to score 13 points, Sarah Ringer had 12 points and four steals and Lauren Schurr totaled 11 points on 3-of-8 shooting from three-point land.