FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. –
Paige Matijasich notched another 20-point game and grabbed eight rebounds, but it wasn't enough for the Kenyon College women's basketball team to end the calendar year with a win. Sunday, on a neutral-site court at Cardinal Gibbons High School, the Ladies fell to No. 9-ranked Messiah College Falcons, 57-49.
The win was the 12th-straight for Messiah (12-1), while the loss stopped Kenyon's (9-4) win streak at four games.
Matijasich played 34 minutes, went 7-of-18 from the floor and 3-of-4 at the free throw line to record her third 20-point game of the season. She's now averaging a team-best 16.2 points per game. Aside from her, the Ladies struggled to manufacture much offense. Freshman
Grace Connery knocked down a trio of three-balls for nine points, while classmate
Bridget Molnar added six. No other Kenyon player scored more than four.
Despite the lack of point production, the Ladies' trademark defense, as well as their efforts on the boards, kept them in the game and helped them cut a 16-point deficit down to five late in the game.
Trailing 49-33 early in the fourth quarter, Kenyon made a run that started with a
Lane Davis layup. Connery followed with a three-pointer and, a minute later, Matijasich scored five straight to pull the Ladies within nine points. Molnar then sank a jumper and, with 1:15 left, Matijasich converted two free throws, making the score 54-49.
That was as close as Kenyon would get. Messiah ended the game by sinking three of its last four free throw attempts. Those were three of just 10 fourth-quarter points for the Falcons, who were held to 3-of-13 shooting during the final ten minutes of play.
In addition to Matijasich's eight rebounds, Kenyon got seven boards from both Davis and
Sharon Hull. Molnar tallied six more and the Ladies generated a huge 45-29 rebounding advantage.
Messiah, which led by as many as 17, was paced by 16 points and 14 rebounds from Alecia Rohrer. Maci Thornton scored 14 points and dished out six assists.
The Ladies will now return to Gambier and start preparations for their next game, which will be a January 3 road game at Denison University.
