CHESTER, Pa. – The Messiah University women's basketball team fell to Widener University 56-50 on Wednesday evening. The Falcons have now lost three of their last five games at Widener. The Falcons and Pride each scored one more point than each other in the first two quarters to put the score at 32-32 at the half. The Pride outscored the Falcons, 19-14 in the third quarter to take a five-point lead heading into the final quarter. The Falcons comeback attempt was cut short and the Pride finished the game strong to win 56-50. Reese Harden led the Falcons with 18 points.
 
Up next, the Falcons travel to York, Pa. to take on the Spartans of York College of Pa. on Saturday, Feb. 10 at 1:00 p.m.

First Quarter
The Falcons opened the first quarter with a 5-2 lead in the first five minutes that was led by two baskets from Reese Harden and a Liv Monturo free throw. The Pride finished the quarter with a 6-2 run, as both defenses held the scoring in check for most of the opening quarter with the Pride leading 8-7.
 
Second Quarter
The Pride continued the momentum with another 6-2 to run in the first four minutes of the second quarter to push their lead up to five. After some back-and-forth baskets, the Falcons finished the half with a 9-0 run that was started by a three-point play from Morgan Adams and ended with a Reese Harden jumper to tie the game at 32 at the half.
 
Third Quarter
The Pride opened the second half strong with a 7-0 run in the first two and half minutes to take an early second-half lead. The Falcons answered back with a 6-2 run that started with a Chloe Milanesi free throw and ended with two Hope Cook free throws to put the Falcons down 31-28 with 3:30 remaining in the third. The Pride then hit a couple of threes, but a basket from Liv Monturo and two free throws and a basket from Chloe Milanesi cut into the Pride's momentum from the threes to keep the Falcons within one with 1:54 remaining in the third. The Pride though ended the quarter with a 6-2 run to take a 41-36 lead entering the fourth quarter.
 
Fourth Quarter
The Pride once again opened a quarter strong with a 6-2 run to take a nine-point lead with 7:30 remaining in the game. The two teams traded baskets for the next three minutes and the Falcons then trailed the Pride by eight with four minutes remaining in the game. The two teams played great defense for the next two minute and a half minutes to prevent any baskets. The two teams then traded baskets to end the game, with the Pride playing some tight defense and hitting a couple free throws to win the game 56-50.
 
Stats
Reese Harden led the Falcons with 18 points, three rebounds, one block, and a steal. Chloe Milanesi totaled 11 points, five rebounds, three steals, and one block. Morgan Adams added seven points, 11 rebounds, three blocks, and two steals. Liv Monturo also scored seven points, 10 rebounds, and two blocks. The Falcons shot 30.2 percent from the field and 9.1 percent from three, The Pride shot 36.5 percent from the field and 46.2 percent from three.
 
Next
The Falcons travel to York, Pa. to take on the Spartans of York College of Pa. on Saturday, Feb. 10 at 1:00 p.m.