WOMEN'S HOOP TEAM DOWNS #10 MESSIAH
Jan. 2, 2010
THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. - The Emmanuel Women's Basketball Team upset Messiah College, 60-56, in the final round of California Lutheran's Holiday Classic. Messiah entered the game undefeated at 9-0 and ranked 10th nationally in the latest D3hoops.com poll. The Saints got a game-high 26 points from Kristin LeBel (Tolland, Conn.), who was subsequently named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player. With the upset victory, the Saints improve to 8-1 on the season, while the Falcons drop to 9-1 overall.
LeBel's 26 points led all scorers, as the junior guard scored 12 of her 26 points from the free throw line. Freshman forward Fiona O'Dwyer (Stamford, Conn.) added 13 points on 5 for 11 shooting, while also hauling in 7 rebounds and blocking 2 shots. Junior point guard Casey Shevlin (Medford, N.Y.) chipped in with 7 points and 4 assists, while classmate Pamela Mobley (Worcester, Mass.) grabbed a team-high 9 boards in the win.
This huge win for Emmanuel came without the help of pre-season All-American Iman Davis (Toms River, N.J.), who left the game midway through the first half with an injury. Despite 29 minutes without their star player, a team shooting effort of just 15 for 30 from the line and being outrebounded, 41-38, the Saints came away with a solid victory over a top-ten team.
Emmanuel's defense totaled 14 steals and forced 27 Messiah turnovers. The Saints committed just 14 fouls versus 21 by the Falcons. Messiah was led by two players scoring in double figures. Julie Henninger led the way with 12 points, while Kira Maier added 10 points in the effort.
With the contest knotted at 56-56 a under a minute remaining, Shevlin hit a lay-up to put Emmanuel up two. The Falcons were unsuccessful on their next possession and committed a quick foul with 19 seconds to go. LeBel hit one of two and Emmanuel led 59-56. Another Messiah foul sent LeBel back to the line and she was able to seal the win with a final free throw with 6 seconds left.
Along with LeBel's Most Outstanding Player award, O'Dwyer and Davis also received All-Tournament Team honors for Emmanuel. Henninger and Maier made the All-Tournament Team for Messiah.
The Saints will return home to take on another top 20 team this week. Emmanuel will play at 17th-ranked Tufts University on Tuesday night (1/5) at 6pm. The Jumbos enter the contest at 9-1 on the season.