ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – On Monday afternoon, the twenty-fifth ranked Messiah University women's basketball team defeated the Eagles of Husson University, 56-39. The Falcons took an early lead after outscoring the Eagles 11-10 in the first quarter. The score remained close headed into the half with the Falcons outscoring the Eagles by one again in the second quarter to lead 21-19 at the break. The Falcons outscored the Eagles 18-6 in the third quarter to jump to a commanding 14-point lead headed into the final quarter. The Falcons then outscored the Eagles by three in the fourth to win the game, 56-39. Reese Harden led the Falcons with 16 points, five rebounds, two assists, two blocks, and a steal. Liv Monturo totaled 15 points with five rebounds, three steals, and a block. Chloe Milanesi added six points and totaled 16 rebounds.
 
Up next, the Falcons travel to Altoona, Pa. to take on the Lions of Penn St. Altoona on Saturday, Jan 4 at 1:00 p.m.

First Quarter
After the Falcons and Eagles traded baskets to open the game, the Falcons went on a 6-0 run to give the Falcons a 8-2 lead with six minutes remaining in the first. Chloe Milanesi, Liv Monturo, and Reese Harden each scored a basket for the Falcons in the run. After a couple minutes of scoreless play, the Eagles ended the half with a 8-3 run to cut the Falcons lead to one at the end of the quarter. Ainsley Bell scored the lone basket for the Falcons during the Eagles run.
 
Second Quarter
Both teams opened the first three minutes trading a basket with Reese Harden scoring for the Falcons and added a free throw on the play. The Eagles then went on a 7-2 run to take a 19-16 lead with six minutes remaining in the half. The Falcons ended the half with a 5-0 run, with Liv Monturo scoring all five points to give the Falcons a 21-19 lead into the half.
 
Third Quarter
The Falcons kept the momentum going out of the half with two straight buckets in the first three minutes. Reese Harden and Liv Monturo each tallied a bucket to push the Falcons lead to six. After Husson scored three straight points, the Falcons outscored the Eagles, 6-3 in to keep the six-point lead with just under three minutes to go in the third. Charlotte Milanesi, Reese Harden, and Raegan Fogarty each scored for the Falcons in the stretch. The Falcons finished off the third with a 8-0 run to give Messiah a 39-25 lead entering the fourth. The run started with an EmmyFaith Wood jumper and ended with a layup from Monturo.
 
Fourth Quarter
The Falcons kept the scoring going to start the fourth with six-straight points to extend the Falcons lead to 20. EmmyFaith Wood, Liv Monturo, and Raegan Fogarty each scored a basket for the Falcons in the run. The run proved to be the dagger as the two teams traded baskets for the remainder of the game to give the Falcons the 56-39 win.
 
Stats
Reese Harden led the Falcons with 16 points, five rebounds, two assists, two blocks, and a steal. Liv Monturo totaled 15 points with five rebounds, three steals, and a block. Chloe Milanesi added six points and totaled 16 rebounds. Raegan Fogarty added five points and five rebounds. The Falcons shot 40 percent from the field and 8.3 percent from three. The Eagles shot 28.1 percent from the field and 17.6 percent from three.
 
Next
The Falcons travel to Altoona, Pa. to take on the Lions of Penn St. Altoona on Saturday, Jan 4 at 1:00 p.m.