Nov. 25, 2008

Box Score

BALTIMORE, MD - The Johns Hopkins women's basketball team wasn't able to hold off a tough No. 11 Messiah team as the Blue Jays fell short on Tuesday in Goldfarb Gymnasium in a 57-45 loss. The Falcons rise to 4-0 on the season as the Blue Jays move to 1-2.

Following the lead of sophomore Lyndsay Burton, the Blue Jays tied it at 26 with less than three minutes to play in the first half. Messiah would score the next six points to take a 32-26 lead at halftime. Burton had eight first-half points. The Blue Jays forced 12 first-half Falcon turnovers.

Hopkins brought the score to within three with 12:27 to go in the second half, 42-39. Neither team would record a field goal for nearly four minutes, but Messiah took over, scoring nine unanswered points to claim a 51-39 advantage at 4:49. After a jumper by Burton, the Falcons hit their next four free throws for a 55-41 lead.

Senior Caitlin Sloane hit her two free throws, making it 55-43 at 1:55. Messiah's Ashley Brooks scored a layup for a 57-45 lead at 1:46. Hopkins couldn't find the net on its next two 3-point attempts, leaving the final score at 57-45.

Burton led the Blue Jays with 15 points, four rebounds and two steals, marking her second double-figure scoring game of the season. Senior Kristin Phillips followed with eight points and 13 rebounds. Phillips' 13 boards are the most by any Blue Jay this season.

Messiah's Ashley Brooks led all scores with 30 points on 3-for-7 shooting from 3-point range. Silalei Shani grabbed 10 rebounds to go with her 12 points.

Head coach Nancy Funk and the Blue Jays held Messiah to its lowest point total on the season. The Falcons' 57 points are also the least amount allowed by the Blue Jays in four all-time meetings between the two schools.

The Blue Jays travel to St. Louis to take part in Washington University's McWilliams Tournament. Hopkins is set to face Carthage on Saturday, November 29 at 1 p.m. Carthage received votes in the latest edition of the USA Today/ESPN Division III Top 25 Coaches Poll.