ST. DAVIDS, Pa. – The Messiah University women's basketball team escaped with a 55-53 win at Eastern on Saturday afternoon. The Falcons jumped to an early six-point lead after the first quarter. The Eagles stuck around outscoring the Falcons by two in the second quarter to put the score at the half at 37-33. The Eagles continued to battle with the Falcons cutting the Messiah lead to three entering the final quarter. The two teams had a defensive battle in the fourth, but Messiah made a key stop on the final possession to hold on to win 55-53. Morgan Adams led the Falcons with a 16 point and 13 rebound double-double.
 
Up next, the Falcons travel to Owings Mills, Md. to take on the Mustangs of Stevenson University on Wednesday, Jan. 24 at 7:00 p.m.

First Quarter
After the Eagles scored the first two baskets of the game, the Falcons went on an 11-2 run to take a 11-6 lead with five minutes remaining in the first. Kiara Bomboy led the Falcons with seven points in the run and Morgan Adams added four points. The two teams traded baskets to end the quarter with a jumper from Raegan Fogarty highlighting the final five minutes of the quarter to give the Falcons a 18-12 lead.
 
Second Quarter
The Eagles once again started the quarter strong with two straight baskets, but the Falcons answered with a 6-2 run that started with a jumper from Reese Harden and ended with a basket from Morgan Adams to push the Falcons lead to 24-18 with six minutes remaining in the half. The Eagles then responded with a 7-2 run to reduce the Falcons lead to one with three minutes remaining in the half. After a three from Eastern tied the game, the Falcons ended the half strong with a 7-3 run that was started by a basket from Charlotte Milanesi to give the Falcons a 37-33 lead at the half.
 
Third Quarter
The Falcons started the third strong with a three from Charlotte Milanesi to push the Falcons lead to seven. After a couple minutes of scoreless basketball, the two teams traded baskets with a couple Morgan Adams' free throws leading the way to keep the Falcons lead at seven with four minutes remaining in the quarter. The Eagles ended the quarter with an 8-4 run to cut the Falcons lead to 48-45 entering the final quarter.
 
Fourth Quarter
The Eagles started the quarter with three straight points to tie the game at 48 with 7:23 remaining in the game. The Falcons responded with a free throw from Reese Harden and matching baskets to give the Falcons a 53-52 lead with 4:39 remaining in the fourth. The two teams did not score a basket for the rest of the game and Morgan Adams hit a couple free throws with six second left to give the Falcons a three-point lead. After an intentional foul call, Eastern hit a free throw to make it a two point game, but could not make the jumper at the buzzer and the Falcons escaped with a 55-53.
 
Stats
Morgan Adams led the Falcons with a 16-point, 13 rebound double-double. Charlotte Milanesi totaled 13 points and three assists. Reese Harden had 10 points, five rebounds, three steals, and two assists. Kiara Bomboy added 10 points and two steals. The Falcons shot 40 percent from the field and 33.3 percent from three. The Eagles shot 41.4 percent from the field and 20 percent from three. The Falcon's defense was strong forcing 17 Eastern turnovers.
 
Next
The Falcons travel to Owings Mills, Md. to take on the Mustangs of Stevenson University on Wednesday, Jan. 24 at 7:00 p.m.