CENTER VALLEY, Pa. – On Saturday afternoon, the Messiah University women's basketball team finished strong to earn a 58-45 win over the Bulldogs of DeSales University. The Falcons opened the game with a 14-11 lead after the first quarter. The Falcons outscored the Bulldogs by six in the second to take a 27-18 lead at the half. The Bulldogs looked to mount a comeback and reduced the Falcons lead to six headed into the final quarter. The Falcons dominated in the fourth, outscoring the Bulldogs by seven to earn the 58-45 win. Liv Monturo led the Falcons with 25 points and 16 rebounds. Hope Cook added 15 points. Charlotte Milanesi totaled four points, seven rebounds, six assists, and two steals.
 
Up next, the Falcons host the Eagles of Juniata College on Wednesday, Dec. 10 at 7:00 p.m.

First Quarter
After a quick 5-0 run to start the game from the Bulldogs, the Falcons reduced the DeSales lead to one after two free throws from Liv Monturo and a layup from Raegan Fogarty with 7:30 remaining in the first. After a pair of Bulldogs' baskets, The Falcons went on an 10-2 run to take a 14-11 lead at the end of the first. Hope Cook led the Falcons during the run with two threes and Monturo added four points.
 
Second Quarter
With a strong defensive effort from both teams, each team only scored one basket in the first three minutes and a half of the second quarter to keep the Falcons lead at three. After a Bulldogs basket, the Falcons closed out the half strong with an 8-3 run to take a 27-18 lead at the break. Liv Monturo led the Falcons during the run with seven points.
 
Third Quarter
The Bulldogs opened the third strong outscoring the Falcons, 8-4 in the first three minutes to reduce the Falcons lead to five. Liv Monturo scored all four points for the Falcons during the stretch. For the next two minutes, the two teams traded baskets with EmmyFaith Wood and Hope Cook scoring for the Falcons. The Bulldogs then scored four-straight points to reduce the Falcons lead one with just under five minutes remaining in the third. After a timeout by the Falcons, they ended the third with a 9-4 run to push their lead to 44-38 entering the final quarter. Cook led the Falcons during the run with five points and Monturo and Brooke Fenchel each added a basket.
 
Fourth Quarter
After almost two minutes of scoreless basketball to open the fourth, the Falcons scored four-straight points to extend their lead to 10 with seven minutes remaining in the fourth. Ainsley Bell hit a jumper, and Liv Monturo made two free throws for the Falcons during the stretch. The Bulldogs though would not go away and went on a quick 5-0 run to reduce the Falcons lead to five with just under four minutes remaining in the game. The Falcons finished the game strong with a 10-2 run to earn the 58-45 win. Bell led the Falcons with four points during the final run and Charlotte Milanesi and Monturo each added three points.
 
Stats
Liv Monturo led the Falcons with 25 points and 16 rebounds. Hope Cook added 15 points. Charlotte Milanesi totaled four points, seven rebounds, six assists, and two steals. Ainsley Bell added six points, four rebounds, and three assists. The Falcons shot 36.8 percent from the field and 16.7 percent from three. The Bulldogs shot 31.3 percent from the field and 50 percent from behind the arc.
 
Next
The Falcons host the Eagles of Juniata College on Wednesday, Dec. 10 at 7:00 p.m. for the final home game of 2025 for the Falcons.