ST. DAVIDS, Pa.– After nearly two weeks without a game, Eastern University Women's Basketball returned to host the unbeaten and No. 12 ranked Messiah College Falcons. The unbeaten MAC Commonwealth-leading Falcons jumped to a big lead early and held on for a 75-44 win. Brynn Schmidt finished with a career-high 13 points to pace the Eagles in the loss. 

The visiting Falcons used smothering pressure defense early to force turnovers and create chances in transition. The stifling pressure created nine first-quarter turnovers that led to ten Messiah points. The Falcon lead was 18-2 before Jaelyn Harris broke through with a 3-pointer from the top of the key. Messiah scored the final basket of the frame to lead 20-5. 

While the Eagles tightened up ball control in the second quarter, the Falcon offense found its rhythm from deep with three made 3-pointers to swell their advantage as the period progressed. The Eagles did not score a point in the paint in the first half, and Messiah (9-0) used that edge along with a 21-3 edge in fast-break points to lead 45-14 at the break.

Eastern (0-7) stayed with the Falcons through the final two periods, but the Eagles were unable to put a major dent in the lead at any point. Schmidt, who came into the day with only three free throw attempts, was aggressive going to the basket and finished 6-for-8 from the line. Jaelyn Harris finished with 14 points. Though they only made 12-of-47 from the floor, the Eagles got to the line for 23 attempts in the game. Messiah shot 19-of-30 from the floor in the first half and finished the game shooting 52 percent.

The two teams will play again at Messiah tomorrow.