GRANTHAM, Pa. – On Saturday afternoon, the Messiah University women's basketball team clinched the top-seed in the MAC Commonwealth Tournament with a 61-52 win over the Spartans of York College. The Falcons opened the game strong with an 18-8 lead after the first quarter. The Spartans answered back in the second, outscoring the Falcons 14-9 to reduce the Falcons lead to 27-22 headed into the break. The Spartans outscored the Falcons by two in the third to cut the Falcons lead to 44-41 headed into the final quarter. The Falcons outscored York by six in the final quarter to earn the 61-52 win.
Reese Harden led the Falcons with 13 points, four rebounds, three blocks, and an assist.
Chloe Milanesi totaled 10 points, 14 rebounds, four assists, and three steals.
Liv Monturo added 10 points, six rebounds, and two steals.
Up next, the Falcons travel to Owings Mills, Md. to take on the Mustangs of Stevenson University on Tuesday, Feb. 18 at 7:00 p.m.
First Quarter
The Falcons opened the game strong with a quick 10-2 run in the first three minutes of the game.
Liv Monturo led the Falcons with six points and
Reese Harden added four points for the Falcons during the run. The Spartans responded with a 6-2 run to cut the Falcons lead to four.
Reese Harden scored the lone points for the Falcons during the Spartans run. The Falcons ended the first strong with a 6-0 run to give them a 18-8 lead at the end of the first quarter.
Raegan Fogarty started the run with a jumper and
Chloe Milanesi ended the run with four straight points.
Second Quarter
The Spartans started the second quarter strong with a 9-0 run to reduce the Falcons lead to one with 4:23 remaining in the half. After the two teams traded baskets, the Falcons ended the half with a 4-0 run to take a 27-22 lead into the break.
Ainsley Bell made two jumpers for the Falcons in the final stretch of the first half.
Third Quarter
The two teams opened the second quarter going back-and-forth trading baskets until the Falcons quickly scored five straight points to take a 38-31 lead with 4:34 remaining in the third.
Charlotte Milanesi scored on a layup and
Chloe Milanesi made a three for the Falcons during the five-point swing. Each team then scored six points with
EmmyFaith Wood draining back-to-back threes for the Falcons. The Spartans however responded with four straight points to end the third, reducing the Falcons lead to 44-41 headed into the final quarter.
Fourth Quarter
The Falcons started the fourth strong with a quick 5-0 run to push their lead back to eight with eight minutes remaining in the game.
Charlotte Milanesi started the run with a three and the run ended with a pair of
Reese Harden free throws. The two teams continued to trade baskets throughout the remaining of the fourth, highlighted by a big three from
Chloe Milanesi to earn the 61-52 win.
Stats
Reese Harden led the Falcons with 13 points, four rebounds, three blocks, and an assist.
Chloe Milanesi totaled 10 points, 14 rebounds, four assists, and three steals.
Liv Monturo added 10 points, six rebounds, and two steals.
Charlotte Milanesi added nine points, five rebounds, three assists, and three steals.
EmmyFaith Wood also added eight points and four rebounds. The Falcons shot 36.2 percent from the field and 33.3 percent from three. The Spartans shot 32.1 percent from the field and 35.3 percent from three.
Next
The Falcons travel to Owings Mills, Md. to take on the Mustangs of Stevenson University on Tuesday, Feb. 18 at 7:00 p.m.