YORK, Pa. – The Spartans struggled to find a rhythm offensively as they were held to their lowest offensive output of the season Saturday in a 54-36 loss at home to No. 17 Messiah.

Records

York 4-5

Messiah 7-1 

Team Stats

Score: Messiah 54, York 36

FG: YCP 11-for-55 (20.0%), MC 17-for-54 (31.5%)

3PT FG: YCP 3-for-15 (20.0%), MC 4-for-21 (19.0%) 

FT: YCP 11-for-14 (78.6%), MC 16-for-18 (88.9%)

Rebounds: YCP 40, MC 54 

Assists: YCP 8, MC 7

Turnovers: YCP 19, MC 16

Blocked Shots: YCP 7, MC 6

Steals: YCP 7, MC 10

How It Happened

• The Spartans held the Falcons in check through the first quarter of play as Messiah never managed to lead by more than four. York held an advantage in field goals made in the first quarter, 4-3, but it was Messiah's 8-for-8 performance from the free-throw line that ultimately made the difference as the Falcons took 14-10 lead into the first intermission.

• The Messiah offense heated up in the second quarter as the Falcons shot 46.2% from the floor and out-scored the Spartans 16-9 as York shot just 17.6% from the floor. A made three-pointer by Haley Luckabaugh cut the Spartan deficit to 6 with 2:34 left in the first half, but the Falcons responded with a three-pointer of their own and tacked on another score on their last possession of the half to take an 11-point lead into halftime.

• The offensive woes continued for the Spartans into the second half as they were shutout in the third quarter. Messiah more than doubled their lead from the start of the half, taking a 24-point advantage as the Falcons out-scored the Spartans 13-0 in the quarter and put the game out of reach. 

Spartan Leaders 

Alana Bortner: 12 points, 3 rebounds, 2 steals 

Kayla Ferris: 5 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal

Molly Day, 4 points, 7 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block, 1 steal

Falcon Leaders

Jayneisha Davis: 18 points, 6 rebounds, 4 steals 

Leah Springer: 2 points, 15 rebounds, 2 assists, 6 blocks, 3 steals 

Gracie Cryan: 10 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal 

Game Notes 

York held Messiah to its lowest point total in win this season and its second-lowest point total overall on the year … Alana Bortner led all players with 10 second-half points as she led York with 12 on the day … Bortner has been York's leading scorer in five times this season, which leads the team … Messiah takes 22-7 lead in the all-time series with York and as the Falcons have won the last two meetings. 

Up Next

The Spartans hit the road to take on Keystone on Tuesday at 6 p.m.