CHESTER, Pa. –Kyra Schenk posted her second double-double of the season as the Widener University women's basketball team claimed its first victory against a ranked opponent in nearly seven years with a statement 75-62 victory against the No. 24/20 Messiah Falcons in a MAC Commonwealth matchup on Wednesday evening.
 
"I felt today we did a nice job bouncing back from a tough loss on Saturday," said head coach Alisa Kintner. "Sometimes a loss like that humbles a group and I thought they really answered by coming to practice the last two days. I thought we did a good job defensively, really trying to contain Leah Springer and Jayneisha Davis. I think we did a good job of sitting in our gaps and making sure the drives weren't there. Messiah did a nice job of going on a run, but our women never hung their heads and answered back in the last two minutes."
 
GAME NOTES

• This is Widener's first win against Messiah since January 31st, 2015.
• The win marks the first for the Pride against a ranked opponent in nearly seven years since also downing the then No. 16 Falcons 67-52 in the Third Round of the 2013 NCAA Tournament.
• Schenk filled the stat sheet with 14 points, 10 rebounds, four assists, and tied a career-high with five blocks.
• Devan Rimmer led the scoring attack with 21 points.
• Jordan D'Ambrosio added a personal best 14 points on 6-of-7 shooting.
• Madison Ireland had 10 points, six rebounds, and six assists. The assist total pushed her to 501 in her career, making her just the second player in program history with 500+ dimes.
• The Pride connected on 29-of-60 shots, a 48.3 percent clip, the highest shooting percentage allowed by the Falcons this season by nine percent.

 
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Pride found itself down 8-2 early, but a scoring spurt led by Rimmer's nine first quarter points put WU ahead 17-16 after one. The Blue and Gold continued to stay hot in the second, outscoring the Falcons 20-10 and taking a double digit lead into the half.
 
WU was able to keep Messiah at arm's reach for most of the second half, but a late push by the Falcons allowed the visitors to cut the lead to four with 5:07 to play. However, a 14-5 closing run by the Pride, including five points by Schenk, held on to win 75-62.
 
UP NEXT
The Pride heads back on the road for another MAC Commonwealth matchup at Stevenson on Saturday. Tipoff is at 1:00 p.m.