GRANTHAM, Pa. – On Wednesday evening, the Messiah University women's basketball team defeated the Lions of Albright College, 78-52 in the MAC Commonwealth Tournament Semifinal game. The Falcons opened the first quarter with a 15-8 lead. The Falcons outscored the Lions by 10 in the second quarter to take a 37-20 lead at the half. The Falcons outscored the Lions by seven in the third to take a commanding, 60-36 lead headed into the final quarter. The Falcons closed out the game outscoring the Lions by two to earn the 78-52 lead. Reese Harden led the Falcons with 24 points, four rebounds, four assists, and steals. Liv Monturo totaled 20 points, seven rebounds, four assists, two blocks and a steal. Chloe Milanesi added 11 points, four rebounds, three steals, a block, and an assist.
 
Up next, the Falcons host the Pride of Widener University on Saturday, March 1 at 7:00 p.m. in the MAC Commonwealth Championship game.

First Quarter
The Falcons opened the game strong with an 8-0 run in the first four and a half minutes. Sydney Hoffman started the run with a layup and Liv Monturo ended the run with a basket and a free throw. The Lions answered back with a 6-0 run reducing the Falcons lead to 8-6 with 3:30 remaining in the first. The Falcons capped off the first quarter with a 7-2 run to give the Falcons a 15-8 lead at the end of the first. Reese Harden led the Falcons with five points during the run.
 
Second Quarter
After the Lions opened the second with the first basket, the Falcons rattled off a 17-2 run to incease their lead to 32-12 with four minutes remaining in the half. The run was highlighted by six points from Reese Harden, four points from Liv Monturo, and three points from EmmyFaith Wood. The Lions outscored the Falcons 8-5 to put the score at 37-20 headed into the break. Ainsley Bell, Reese Harden, and EmmyFaith Wood each scored for the Falcons in the final stretch.
 
Third Quarter
The teams opened the third trading baskets to put the score at 47-32 midway through the third quarter. Charlotte Milanesi led the Falcons during the back-and-forth action with five points. The Falcons though ended the third with a 14-4 run to extend their lead to 60-36 headed into the final quarter. Chloe Milanesi led the Falcons during the run with six points.
 
Fourth Quarter
The Falcons opened the fourth with quick threes from Reese Harden and Chloe Milanesi to extend the Falcons lead to 30. After five straight points from the Lions, the Falcons rattled off another 6-0 run to push their lead to 72-41 with just under six minutes remaining in the game. The Lions outscored the Falcons 11-6 to end the game, but the Falcons earned the win and the trip to the MAC Commonwealth Championship game with a 78-52 win. A basket from Justine Forbes and Hope Cook highlighted the ending stretch of the game for the Falcons.
 
Stats
Reese Harden led the Falcons with 24 points, four rebounds, four assists, and steals. Liv Monturo totaled 20 points, seven rebounds, four assists, two blocks and a steal. Chloe Milanesi added 11 points, four rebounds, three steals, a block, and an assist. Charlotte Milanesi added seven points, three rebounds, and three assists. The Falcons shot 49.3 percent from the field and 41.7 percent from three. The Lions shot 33.3 percent from the field and 30 percent from three.
 
Next
The Falcons host the Pride of Widener University on Saturday, March 1 at 7:00 p.m. in the MAC Commonwealth Championship game.