OWINGS MILLS, Md. – Led by nine steals by senior Ty Bender, the Stevenson women's basketball team forced a season-high 36 turnovers as the Mustangs posted their eighth-straight victory with a 57-46 win over Messiah in a Commonwealth Conference contest Wednesday evening at Owings Mills Gymnasium.

The Mustangs (10-2, 4-0 MAC) tied the record for most consecutive wins as well as the best start to a season, matching the 2005-06 team. It was also the third game Stevenson has forced at least 30 turnovers as the Mustangs are forcing 26.2 turnovers per game.

Stevenson has also won 11 of their last 12 games at home dating back to last season. The lone blemish was against former conference foe Elizabethtown on February 18, 2014.

After the opening basket by the Falcons (7-7, 3-2 MAC), the Stevenson defense was able to force five-straight turnovers, limiting Messiah's offense to just the one open look at the basket. However Messiah connected on its first six shots en route to a 14-7 lead.

Stevenson would commit six turnovers of its own in the early going leading to seven Falcon points. The two teams would combine for 23 points off turnovers in the first half.

A layup by Bender would spark a 9-2 run for the Mustangs who would tie the game at 16-16 following a three-pointer by junior Stephanie Martinez with 9:20 remaining in the first half but the Falcons responded down the other end to reclaim their last lead of the game.

An offensive rebound and put back by sophomore Sara Tarbert tied the game for the third and final time before a block and assist by the forward to give Stevenson its first lead of the game.

Back-to-back steals and baskets by the Mustangs gave them their biggest lead of the half at five with 5:24 remaining in the period. Junior Brittney Page would cap a 7-4 run by Stevenson with a three-pointer with one minute remaining in the half.

The Mustangs opened the second half with an 8-2 run to extend their lead to 12. They would extend their lead to 14 following two free throws by senior Kayleigh Guzek who currently holds the school record with a .767 free throw percentage.

Messiah would cut the lead to five following a three-pointer by Dominique Seamon with 3:22 remaining but that would be as close as the Falcons would get.

Bender finished with 13 points, five rebounds, two assists and one block. Her nine steals ranks second all-time. Meanwhile, Tarbert finished with a team and game-high 15 points to go along with eight rebounds, three steals and one block.

Gillian Glackin lead Messiah with her third-straight double double with 15 points and 13 rebounds to go along with three blocks.

Stevenson returns to action on Saturday, January 10 when the Mustangs host Alvernia in a Commonwealth Conference contest beginning at 3:00 p.m.