According to senior Katy Fogel, “Coach said to us in the locker room that we have everything to gain from this game, and they have everything to lose. I think that was the mentality of the game. We just wanted to go onto their home court and play hard and that’s exactly what we did.” The Elizabethtown College women’s basketball team came out victorious on Wednesday, Jan. 23 against long-time rival the Messiah College Falcons, with a final score of 62-57.
Messiah, ranked number five in the country in the WBCA/USA Today Sports Division III, has beaten Etown in every game since 2001, until now. Etown started by trailing for long periods of the first half and continued for most of the second. Out of halftime, the Jays began their battle back into the game, answering to everything Messiah gave them. With 10:42 left on the clock the Falcons had the lead, 47-37. Over the next two minutes, the Jays managed to cut the lead down to one and kept the Falcons from gaining more than a three-point lead. Junior Taylor Kreider took two foul shots followed by two layups by first-year Alyssa Aichele, putting Etown ahead, 52-49, with just under six minutes left in the game. The Jays went up by five with a few minutes remaining, but Messiah’s leading scorer brought the Falcons back within a point.
Aichele made two free throws after a steal from Kreider, leaving just 24 seconds on the clock, giving the Jays a three-point lead. Senior Nadine Yunginger was then fouled on with just one second left in the game. She hit both foul shots, providing the Jays with two additional points and ending the game with a 62-57 victory, which was Etown’s seventh win in a row. “We played really, really good defense, which is what we will have to do again [against LVC],” Kreider, Etown’s leading scorer, said. She led the way in this game with 23 points, eight rebounds and three steals. Junior Kendra Beittel also played solid, getting double figures [12 points] in her third straight game. Sophomore Taylor Alwine had eight points and seven rebounds, while Yunginger finished with seven points, four rebounds, three steals and two free throws. After the game, Yunginger stated, “Each and every member made a difference and played a huge part in the win! It was an incredible team win!”
The Blue Jays moved on to play Lebanon Valley College on Saturday, Jan. 26, hoping to win against another ranked opponent. They came up just short, losing by three after a three-pointer made by Fogel. Despite the outcome, the Jays held their own, forcing 25 turnovers and turning them into 23 points. Lebanon Valley played well, scoring 38 points to Etown’s 24. During a crucial part of the game, Etown had to sit two of their starters due to fouls. Yunginger received her fourth foul with 9:13 left in the second half, resulting in her being subbed out. Alwine was already benched with four fouls as well. As the clock was running out, Etown made their way back into the game but, ultimately, did not have enough time. LVC outrebounded Etown overall, 46-33 for the game. The Jays missed several opportunities in both halves that could have won them the game.
Kreider was the top scorer for Etown again, with 14 points and 11 rebounds. Alwine scored 10 points before being benched, and Yunginger scored nine points and had three assists and four steals. Beittel put up 11 points and four assists, Aichele had six points and six rebounds and first-year Rachel Forjan posted seven points. “It was a tough one and we know what we need to do, and [that] we need to remain united as a team to build from this and come out stronger for our next game,” Yunginger said. The win, with a final score of 65-62, went to Lebanon Valley.
Monday, the Blue Jays picked up a 80-53 win over Lancaster Bible College. Sophomore Taylor Santor led the team with 21 points. Etown took charge of the game early, causing five turnovers and leading 13-0 in the first eight minutes.