GRANTHAM, Pa. - The No. 9 Messiah women's basketball team saw the 2022-23 season come to a close on Saturday night on their home floor in the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament against the No. 7 New York University Violets. The Falcons fell by a final score of 62-41. The Violets used a 14-0 run in the middle of the first quarter to create a little separation before cruising in the second-half to the 21-point victory.
 
Jenny Walker led the Violets with 24 points and nine rebounds as NYU is heading to the Sweet 16. For the Falcons, Megan Zimmerman and Morgan Adams battled through foul trouble to finish with 11 and 10 points, respectively. Chloe Milanesi, Reese Harden and Amber High each scored six points for the Falcons on the evening.
 
The loss is just the third ever on Jordan Court in Hitchcock Arena for the Messiah women's basketball program after they moved from Brubaker Auditorium six season ago. Messiah finished the 2022-23 season with an overall record of 26-3.
 
How It Happened
The Falcons jumped out to an early 4-0 lead with jumpers from Reese Harden at the top of the key and Amber High from the baseline on their first two possessions. Immediately following, the Violets went on a 14-0 run to take a double-digit lead with just over three minutes remaining in the opening period. The Falcons closed the gap to six with two buckets from Morgan Adams and a layup from Megan Zimmerman. After 10 minutes of play, the Violets held a 16-10 lead.
 
The two teams traded baskets for the bulk of the second quarter with the NYU flipping between six and eight points until a 7-0 run in the final two minutes of the half for the Violets pushed their lead to 13 points at the end of the half. NYU held a 31-18 lead after 10 minutes of basketball as the teams went into the locker room.
 
After the break it was all NYU. The Violets pushed their lead to as many as 20 points late in the third quarter, holding a 47-27 lead. By the mid-point of the fourth quarter the NYU cushion was up to 27 points as the Violets earned the 62-41 victory to advance to next weekend's Sweet 16 matchup with Trine University.
 
Closing Out the Season
Saturday night's loss closes out another strong season for the Messiah women's basketball team. The Falcons finish the year with an overall record of 26-3 and claimed their seventh-straight MAC Commonwealth Championship. After starting the season 3-2, Messiah rattled off 23-straight victories before falling on Saturday night.