GRANTHAM, Pa. – After a back and forth opening quarter, the Messiah women's basketball team put their foot down across the final 30 minutes of play to earn a convincing 70-42 victory over the visiting Lycoming Warriors on Friday night. The victory pushes the Falcons into their Tip-Off Tournament Championship Game against the SUNY New Paltz Hawks on Saturday afternoon at 3:00 p.m.
 
Earlier on Friday night the New Paltz Hawks earned a 70-45 victory over Clarks Summit in the first game of the Tip-Off Tournament. As a result, Lycoming will take on Clarks Summit in the Consolation Game at 1:00 p.m. on Jordan Court in Hitchcock Arena on Saturday afternoon.
 
It was a balanced effort for the Falcons with seven Falcons scoring in the contest and three going for at least 13 points. Leading the effort for the Falcons were led by Morgan Adams and Amber High, who each finished with 17 points on the night. Joining the duo in double-figures was Chloe Milanesi, who dropped 13 points while adding seven rebounds, six steals, four assists, and two blocks.
 
How It Happened
The game started extremely with the Lycoming Warriors taking a 1-0 lead before the opening tip. Messiah was assessed a technical foul for a faulty shotclock prior to the start of the contest. Emily Lockard made the single free throw that was given and the Warriors took an early lead.
 
Over the course of the first quarter, the Falcons and Warriors traded the lead multiple times with neither team holding a lead of more than four at any point. The Falcons took the lead for good on a jumper from Charlotte Milanesi with just seconds left in the period. The bucket gave Messiah the lead at 14-13 as the quarter came to a close.
 
Milanesi's jumper at the end of the first started an 8-0 run for the Falcons that saw them take a 20-13 advantage.  The Falcons grew that lead to as many as 11 points at 26-15, but the Warriors trimmed the lead down to seven at the break at 31-24.
 
In the third quarter, Messiah held Lycoming to just four points while scoring 19 of their own to open up a 22-point lead at 50-28. Over the final eight minutes of the period, Messiah outscored the Warriors 17-0 with five different Falcons scoring during the massive run.
 
While the fourth quarter was slightly closer, Messiah still outscored the Warriors 20-14 in the quarter en route to the 70-42 victory.
 
What's Up Next
The Falcons will host the second day of their Tip-Off Tournament tomorrow afternoon with Lycoming and Clarks Summit playing in the Consolation Game at 1:00 p.m. The Falcons and SUNY New Paltz will play in the Championship Game at 3:00p.m. on Jordan Court in Hitchcock Arena.