GRANTHAM, Pa. - The top-seeded Messiah women's basketball team used a big third quarter to earn a trip to their seventh-straight MAC Commonwealth Championship Game, by defeating the Albright Lions 66-58 in the MAC Commonwealth Semifinals on Friday night. The Falcons led 33-27 at the half, but built a 14-point lead early in the fourth quarter to hold on for the victory.
 
Reese Harden led the Falcons with 18 points while Leah Springer (14) and Megan Zimmerman (12) joined her in double digits. Springer added 10 rebounds and six steals for another impressive double-double.
 
With the victory, Messiah moves on to host the second-seeded Widener Pride, who needed a three pointer with two seconds left in regulation to defeat the York Spartans 59-57 in the other semifinal. Messiah and Widener will play a rematch of last season's MAC Commonwealth Championship Game on Sunday afternoon at 2:00 p.m. on Jordan Court in Hitchcock Arena. Messiah is looking for their sixth-straight Conference Championship and 14th since 2000.
 
Falcons Hold Edge in Tight Start
A Leah Springer layup and a three pointer from Eleana Eckley in the first 90 seconds of Friday night's game gave the Falcons a quick 5-0 lead over Albright. The Falcons went up by seven at 9-2 after back-to-back jumpers from Megan Zimmerman. The Lions did not roll over, as Albright went on a 9-2 run themselves in the next three minutes to tie the game at 11-11.

By the send of the opening quarter, Messiah held a slim 15-14 lead.
 
Just over three minutes into the second quarter, Albright's Kayana Chisholm knocked down a three to tie the score at 21-21, but Messiah responded with a 12-4 run to build an eight-point cushion in the final minute of the half. Leah Springer (five), Amber High (four), and Reese Harden (three) contributed all of the Falcons' points on the run.
 
Albright scored the final bucket of the opening half, but Messiah remained in front with a 33-27 edge heading to the locker room.
 
Strong Third Quarter
In the third quarter, Messiah held the Lions to just nine points while scoring 17 of their own to open up a 14-point lead heading into the final period. Reese Harden fueled the third-quarter burst with buckets on three-straight possessions early in the quarter. Later in the period, she connected from distance. She finished with nine points in the third quarter alone.
 
Albright Closes the Gap
Over the course of the first five minutes of the fourth quarter, Albright whittled the Falcons' lead down to seven at 56-49, but Messiah quickly scored three-straight buckets to take the lead back to double-digits at 62-49. Leah Springer, Morgan Adams, and Sidney Stutzman each contributed a bucket on the quick run.
 
Messiah knocked down their free throws down the stretch to earn the 66-58 victory and advance to the 2022 MAC Commonwealth Championship Game on Sunday afternoon.
 
What's Up Next
As mentioned, the Falcons advance to their seventh-straight MAC Commonwealth Championship Game. Messiah will take on the Widener Pride at 2:00 p.m. in a rematch of the 2021 Championship Game that the Falcons won 60-45.
 
Just a week ago, Widener defeated Messiah 72-66 in Chester to hand the Falcons a loss in the regular season finale.