(boxscore)
Widener ran into a tough foe in No. 14 Messiah, suffering a 68-51 Commonwealth Conference loss at Schwartz Center.
Messiah (15-2, 5-0 CC) raced to a 36-18 halftime lead by shooting 45 percent (13-of-29) from the floor and holding Widener to just 25 percent (7-of-28). Ashley Brooks scored 11 points in that span, hitting 4-of-5 from the floor and Katie Kalb netted 10.
Brooks finished with 16 points and eight rebounds for the Falcons, who owned a 56-30 lead with 8:47 remaining. Kalb ended with 13 points, Silalei Shani had 12 and nine rebounds, and Michele Schleich netted 11.
Junior Becky Tyler (Wynnewood, PA) and freshman Casey Pritz (Abington, PA) each played solidly with 13 points and junior Lindsey Isler (New Hope, PA) scored nine for the Pride (11-7, 2-3).
Widener hits the road Wednesday to visit Lebanon Valley at 6:00 pm, followed by the men's contest at 8:00 pm.
