GRANTHAM, Pa. – The No. 17 women's basketball team toppled visiting Eastern University, 77-37, on Jordan Court in Hitchcock Arena on Saturday afternoon. Leah Springer tallied a game-high 18 points as Amber High (13 points) and Morgan Adams (12 points) also contributed double-digit scoring figures. High's 13 points matches a season-high scoring total, fueled by a game-high three triples.
 
The victory improves Messiah's 2021-22 overall record to 14-2 (8-1 MAC Commonwealth), the Falcons' eighth-consecutive win.
 
Springer got things going for the Falcons just 31 ticks into the contest, connecting on an elbow jumper for a prompt 2-0 lead. At the 8:43 mark, Morgan Adams finished a fast break layup following a steal to build the lead to 4-0. The Falcons earned a five-point advantage, 9-4, after another bucket from Springer and a triple from Amber High. Messiah has three different players contribute points not even three minutes into the game.
 
Reese Harden got herself on the scoresheet with 5:33 remaining in the first quarter, finishing a layup that was assisted by Chloe Milanesi. Messiah continued to apply the offensive pressure, riding an 8-0 scoring run during the 3:31-0:48 span of the first quarter. At the end of the opening period, the Falcons led the Eagles, 22-9. Springer scored a game-leading 10 points in the quarter as High (five points) and Harden (four points) made contributions.
 
The Falcons continued to pour it on in the beginning of the second quarter, building their lead to 18 points (27-9) after a 5-0 scoring run to begin the period. Milansi scored her first points during the scoring run, connecting on shot from beyond the three-point arc at the 8:37 mark. Springer continued to tally points, scoring her twelfth point of the game with 5:55 remaining on a jumper to restore the lead to 18 points, 29-11. On the following possession, Sidney Stutzman knocked down a three-pointer to increase the lead to 32-11.
 
Messiah cruised in the final five minutes of the first half, outscoring Eastern, 8-2, to take a commanding 40-13 halftime lead. The Falcons used seven different scorers in the first half, highlighted by 14 from Leah Springer and seven from Amber High. Messiah shot 48.4% (15-31) in the first two quarters of the contest.
 
Just 1:04 into the third quarter of action, High drilled her second triple of the game to put Messiah ahead by 30 points (43-13). Megan Zimmerman scored on consecutive trips for the Falcons, notching two layups at the 5:03 and 4:16 marks. Messiah held a 53-19 advantage with 4:16 remaining in the third quarter, as each side tallied three field goals each during those final four minutes. Entering the fourth quarter, Messiah held a 59-25 lead.
 
High, just like in the third quarter, opened the fourth quarter scoring for Messiah with a made three-pointer. The triple came just 53 seconds into the quarter, giving the Falcons a 62-27 lead while upping High's points total to 13. Haley Wagman and Emma Bell each notched made field goals in the final quarter as the Falcons eased to a lopsided victory over their visitors, 77-37.
 
In the win, High, Springer and Milanesi all recorded three steals. Springer led the Falcons in rebounds (eight) as Stutzman, Milanesi, Bell and Adams all tallied a block in the stats sheet. As a team, Messiah shot an impressive 9-for-10 (90%) from the free throw line.
 
What's Next
Messiah travels to Reading, Pa., to take on the Albright College Lions this Wednesday, Jan. 26, at 5:00 p.m.