ALTOONA, Pa. – On Saturday afternoon, the twenty-fifth ranked Messiah University women's basketball team defeated the Lions of Penn St. Altoona, 60-47. The Falcons started the game strong jumping to a 16-11 lead after the first quarter. The two teams though each scored 10 points in the second to give the Falcons a 26-21 lead at the half. For the third straight game for the Falcons, the third quarter was the difference with the Falcons outscoring the Lions 21-8 to take a 47-29 lead into the fourth. The Lions outscored the Falcons, 18-13, but Messiah's lead was too big, and the Falcons won 60-47. Reese Harden led the Falcons with 13 points, four rebounds, two blocks, and two steals. Liv Monturo totaled 10 points, six rebounds, and two blocks. Sydney Hoffman added eight points.
 
Up next, the Falcons open MAC Commonwealth play against the Lions of Albright College on Wednesday, Jan. 8 at 5:30 PM on Jordan Court in Hitchcock Arena.
 
First Quarter
The Falcons opened the game strong with an 8-2 run to take an early lead with five minutes remaining in the quarter. Sydney Hoffman opened the scoring for the Falcons with a jumper and Justine Forbes ended the run with a three. The Lions responded with a 7-0 run to give the Lions a 9-8 lead with 2:35 remaining in the quarter. The Falcons closed the first with an 8-2 run to give Messiah a 16-11 lead at the end of the first. Chloe Milanesi, Charlotte Milanesi, EmmyFaith Wood, and Hope Cook each scored a basket for the Falcons during the run.
 
Second Quarter
For the first five minutes of the second, the Lions outscored the Falcons 6-5 to put the score at 21-17. Reese Harden added a basket, and Liv Monturo made a couple of free throws for the Falcons during the stretch. The Falcons then outscored the Lions 5-4 for the remainder of the second to give the Falcons a 26-21 lead at the half. Chloe Milanesi scored three points, and Ainsley Bell added a basket for the Falcons.  
 
Third Quarter
Both teams started the third strong with some back-and-forth baskets in the first two minutes. After the two-minute stretch, the Falcons then went on a 16-3 run to give the Falcons a 47-27 lead with just over a minute remaining in the third. Sydney Hoffman led the Falcons with six points and Reese Harden and Monturo each had four points for the Falcons during the run. The Lions hit a couple of free throws in the final minute to reduce the Falcons lead to 47-29 heading into the final quarter.
 
Fourth Quarter
The Falcons opened the fourth with a 6-1 run to push lead to 53-30 with 6:44 remaining in the game. Hope Cook and Liv Monturo each scored three points during the run for the Falcons. The Lions then responded with a 13-3 run to reduce the Falcons lead to 56-43 with two minutes remaining. Justine Forbes scored the three points for the Falcons during the Lions run. Each team scored four points in the final two minutes to give the Falcons a 60-47 win. Emma Fetterman finished off the Falcons' scoring in the game with a jumper with 11 seconds remaining.
 
Stats
Reese Harden led the Falcons with 13 points, four rebounds, two blocks, and two steals. Liv Monturo totaled 10 points, six rebounds, and two blocks. Sydney Hoffman added eight points. Hope Cook also added seven points. The Falcons shot 33.8 percent from the field and 16.7 percent from three. The Lions shot 37.3 percent from the field and 27.3 percent from three.
 
Next
 The Falcons open MAC Commonwealth play against the Lions of Albright College on Wednesday, Jan. 8 at 5:30 PM on Jordan Court in Hitchcock Arena.