GRANTHAM, Pa. – The Messiah women's basketball team outlasted DeSales University 69-67, in the Tip-Off Tournament Championship in Hitchcock Arena on Saturday afternoon. Leah Springer issued an impressive double-double, leading all players in points (23) and rebounds (17). Eleana Eckley (15) and Amber High each contributed double-digits scoring in the victory.

Springer was named Tournament MVP as Eckley earned an All-Tournament Team nod.
 
Springer connected on a floating jump shot for Messiah's opening bucket, tying the game at 2-2 at the 9:16 mark. The graduate forward drained a three-pointer in the following possession, leading to a Megan Zimmerman post move in the next possession to give the Falcons seven unanswered points, leading 7-2. The Bulldogs answered with a scoring run of their own, scoring five-straight points to tie the contest at 9-9 after a fast break layup from Maria Newsome with 4:09 remaining in the opening quarter.
 
Following a DeSales timeout, Messiah rattled off a 5-0 scoring run to retake a five-point advantage (14-11), highlighted by a three-pointer from High. After a streaky first quarter for both sides, the game was tied, 17-17. High connected on her second triple of the contest with only 15 seconds remaining as the Bulldogs answered with a buzzer-beating three-pointer of their own to level the score.
 
DeSales opened up the second quarter with a shot beyond the arc to take a three-point edge (20-17) before a 7-0 Falcons' scoring run put the home side ahead, 24-20, capped off by a triple from Springer at the 7:35 mark. The two sides traded baskets for the following 1:25 as Messiah led by two points (26-24) with 5:21 left in the half. The Bulldogs narrowly outscored Messiah in the final five minutes of the half, 8-7, to take a one-point, 32-31 lead into halftime.
 
In the half, High shot 3-of-5 from beyond the arc as Springer led all scorers with 12 points. In addition to leading all scorers, Springer reeled in a game-high 11 rebounds. The Falcons committed 15 turnovers versus DeSales' nine turnovers.
 
The Falcons began the second half with a 5-2 scoring spurt in the opening 51 seconds, fueled by Springer jumper and a three-pointer from Chloe Milanesi. The action-packed opening minute of play gave Messiah a 36-34 edge. Springer proceeded to make stellar contributions on the defensive end, taking two charges within a 38 second span. Eleana Eckley connected on a three-pointer at the 4:15 mark, her ninth point of the game, to give the Falcons a commanding nine-point lead (50-41). The Bulldogs closed the final minutes of the quarter by outscoring the Falcons, 8-7, but Messiah led, 57-50, heading into the final quarter of play. Eckley had a fantastic offensive performance in the third quarter, scoring eight-straight points from the span of 4:25-2:32 in the period.
 
A 7-5 DeSales run in the opening 2:25 of the fourth quarter cut the visitor's deficit to five points (62-57). Messiah's lead to shrunk to 62-61 with just over five minutes remaining. Milanesi scored a clutch bucket at the four-minute mark, following her own missed jumper to tally an easy layup, increasing the Falcon lead to 64-61.
 
In the final minute of play, Newsome connected on a jump shot to give the Bulldogs a narrow 67-66 lead. The Falcons answered immediately as Haley Wagman drove up the middle of the floor, dishing a pass to Zimmerman for the go-ahead bucket (68-67) with only 27 ticks left. Messiah made a defensive stop in the following possession as Springer reeled in a defensive rebound, calling a timeout before the Bulldogs could force a held-ball jump ball. Eckley converted one of two free throws to give the Falcons a two-point (69-67) advantage heading into the Bulldogs' final possession. In that last possession, Messiah issued strong defense, forcing an off-balanced three-pointer from DeSales that clanked off the rim. The Falcons prevailed in a nail-biter, 69-67, to win the Tip-Off Tournament.
 
The win improves Messiah's overall record to 4-1 on the season.
 
What's Up Next
Messiah begins its MAC Commonwealth slate at home on Tuesday, Nov. 23, hosting Albright College at 6:00 p.m.