FREDERICKSBURG, VA. – The Messiah Women's basketball team traveled to Mary Washington University for a match up against the 7-1 Eagles. The Falcons strong defense propelled them to a 54-48 win on the road.
Reese Harden led all scorers with 20 points, while
Morgan Adams added 10 points and six rebounds, and
Chloe Milanesi contributed another nine points.
The Falcons improve to 6-2 on the season looking to improve their win total in the Puerto Rico Shootout.
First Quarter
The Eagles got off to an early lead, scoring the first five points of the game. However, the Falcons responded well going on a 6-0 run to grab an early 6-5 lead. Chloe and
Charlotte Milanesi opened the scoring for the Falcons. Following a basket from the Eagles with 4:50 on the clock, the Falcons would go on to score the next seven out of nine points to grab their largest lead of the quarter.
Chloe Milanesi,
Reese Harden, and
Charlotte Milanesi would do all the scoring for the Messiah as they extended their lead to 15-9 with two minutes remaining. The Eagles would end the first quarter with a shot from beyond the arc, cutting the lead to 15-12.
Second Quarter
The Falcons continued to get all around contributions from Harden, and
Morgan Adams through the first two minutes of the second quarter extending their lead to 19-14. However, the Eagles would rally back going on an 8-0 run, grabbing their first lead of the second quarter at 22-19. Through the final five minutes of the half, both teams would tighten up defensively, with the Falcons ending the half on top 28-24.
Third Quarter
Messiah would pick up where they left off in the second quarter as they quickly jumped to a 34-27 lead.
Chloe Milanesi, and
Sydney Hoffman scored all the points for the Falcons through the first four minutes. The Eagles would not go away despite receiving their largest deficit of the game, clawing back to tie the game at 36-36 with two minutes remaining in the quarter. The Falcons would end the quarter strong limiting the Eagles to two points, holding a 40-38 heading into the fourth quarter.
Fourth Quarter
Neither team was able to find the bottom of the net in the first two minutes of the final quarter. Until a Hoffman basket plus a foul extended the Falcons lead to 43-38. Adams, and
Charlotte Milanesi would sink two jump shots giving Messiah a 47-38 advantage with six minutes remaining in the game. It wasn't until the 2:09 mark where the Eagles would get their first points of the fourth quarter as the Falcons defense propelled them to a 49-38 lead. The Eagles would make it a close game late scoring six straight in the final 1:30 cutting the lead to 49-44. However, the Falcons would hold on to knock off the 7-1 Eagles 54-48 on the road.
What's Up Next
The Falcons will be in Puerto Rico December 18-19 with a match against Albion College at 11:00 a.m.