CARLISLE, Pa. - For the first time since the 2016-17 season the Dickinson women's basketball team took on local rival Messiah University looking for their first win in the series since at least 2008. That was exactly what the Red and White would get on Wednesday night at Kline Center as they were "Red Hot" from the floor shooting 45.8%, including 7-12 (58.3%) beyond the arc en route to a convincing 61-45 win over the 21st-ranked Falcons in non-conference action.
The game seesawed back-and-forth early as
Indatou Ali-Goukoye and
Mia Chapman scored for the Devils to make it 4-4 just over three minutes in. Six of the next eight points belonged to
Clair Marion as she helped Dickinson to take a 10-6 edge with 3:45 left in the first. Messiah rallied back however, with buckets from Morgan Adams and Reese Harden bringing the visitors to within just one at 12-11 at the 7:53 mark. Layups put home by
Abby John and Chapman surrounded a jumper for Adams to close the period leaving DC ahead 16-13.
After baskets from Chapman and Harden left DC in front 18-15 with 7:42Â remaining in the half, the duo of
Lindsey Hollenshead and
Jenna Weinstein combined for a 10-4 run over the next four minutes to make it 28-19. A pair of jumpers for Harden kept the Falcons within striking distance, but triples for
Caitlin Blackman and Marion allowed the Red and White to post a double-digit lead of 34-23 going to the break.
Messiah seemed to make the better of the halftime adjustments as Charlotte Milanesi, Adams and Harden embarked on a 7-2 charge over the opening 4:22 to close the gap to 36-30. Dickinson would respond in grand fashion with the trio of Blackman, Hollenshead and Marion each knocking down a shot from downtown to extend the advantage once again to double figures at 45-30 with 2:17 to play. After Harden split a pair at the charity line, Hollenshead took a nice feed from Weinstein and knocked home the final jumper of the period (47-31).
A Hollenshead triple and a foul shot for John allowed Dickinson to maintain the same cushion at 51-35 inside the first three minutes of the final quarter. The Devils then went on to grow the lead to 56-39 with buckets coming from
Victoria Zerbe, Chapman and Hollenshead. Another jump shot by Harden stunted the charge for a second, but then
Clare Cronley notched her first points in a DC jersey by knocking home a shot from long-range pushing it to 59-41. The final six points of the game would all be scored at the foul line with
Ella Smith knocking home a pair for the Red and White to set the 61-45 final.
Red Devil Leaders
Points - Hollenshead (16), Marion (12), Chapman (10)
Assists - Blackman (4), Hollenshead and Marion (3)
Rebounds - Blackman (10), Zerbe (7)
Falcon Leaders
Points - Adams and Harden (17)
Assists - Harden and Milanesi (2)
Rebounds - Five players tied (3)
Next on the Court
Dickinson (1-1) will now have to wait until Tuesday to get back to action when they host the Green Terror of McDaniel College inside the Kline Center in the Centennial Conference opener for the Devils.
