YORK, Pa. - At the beginning of December, the York Spartans snapped a 40-game home winning streak that the Messiah women's basketball team carried by defeating the Falcons 61-55 on Jordan Court in Hitchcock Arena. On Saturday afternoon, the Falcons avenged that loss and took over sole possession of first place in the MAC Commonwealth with a 74-49 victory against the Spartans in York. The Falcons held a 34-26 lead against York at halftime, but outscored the Spartans 40-23 after the break to earn the runaway victory.
 
Leah Springer led four Falcons in double-digits with 22 points and 12 rebounds, adding five assists for good measure. Chloe Milanesi (11 points), Megan Zimmerman (10 points), and Eleana Eckley (10 points) joined Springer with 10-plus points.
 
As mentioned, Messiah takes over the top spot in the MAC Commonwealth and now has the inside track to the top seed in the Conference Tournament that will take place at the end of February. Messiah improves to 16-2 overall and now holds a 10-1 record in the conference. The Falcons will be back in action when they host the Lebanon Valley Dutchmen at 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday on Jordan Court in Hitchcock Arena.
 
Tight Start
The start of Saturday's tilt was relatively level across the boards. After a jumper from York's Alana Bortner with 3:18 remaining in the period, the score was tied at 6-6. The scoring picked up across the final three minutes and change in the period with the Falcons outscoring the hosts 8-3 to take a 14-9 lead at the end of the first quarter. Chloe Milanesi knocked down a three in the final seconds of the quarter to punctuate the run.
 
Over the first four minutes of the second quarter, Messiah slowly crept their lead to nine points at 22-13, following a layup by Eleana Eckley on a fast break. Messiah's lead grew to as many as 11 points at 29-18 after a layup from Morgan Adams with 3:31 to play in the half. The Spartans however ripped off the next three points, scoring on three-straight possessions to cut the lead down to five.
 
Five free throws from Leah Springer and a bucket from York gave the Falcons a 34-26 lead at the half.
 
Falcons Assert Themselves Atop Conference
For the first three minutes of the third quarter, the Messiah lead hovered between nine and 11, but after a jumper from Reese Harden gave the Falcons a 42-31 lead, there was no looking back. Following Harden's bucket, 12-straight Messiah points followed as the Falcons built a 54-31 lead. York connected on a layup in the final seconds of the period, but Messiah carried a 21-point lead into the fourth.
 
During the run, five different Falcons scored with Chloe Milanesi leading the charge with five points on a three and a layup.
 
In the fourth, Messiah ballooned their lead to as many as 26 points after a pair of free throws from Haley Wagman midway through the quarter. The large lead built in the third allowed the Falcons to cruise to a 25-point victory, earning the 74-49 win to take over the top spot in the MAC Commonwealth standings.
 
Leah Springer led the Falcons with 22 points and 12 rebounds for her 11th double-double of the season.
 
What's Up Next
The Falcons will be back in action on Wednesday when they host the Lebanon Valley Dutchmen on Jordan Court in Hitchcock Arena. Messiah defeated the Dutchmen 60-32 earlier this season on Dec. 11 in Annville.