WBB 3-1 MAC Championships
Sophia Templeton
46
Widener Wide 18-9,10-4 MAC Commonwealth
74
Winner Messiah Mess 25-2,14-0 MAC Commonwealth
Widener Wide
18-9,10-4 MAC Commonwealth
46
Final
74
Messiah Mess
25-2,14-0 MAC Commonwealth
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Widener Wide 9 10 9 18 46
Messiah Mess 19 17 23 15 74

Game Recap: Women's Basketball |

Women’s Basketball Cruises to MAC Commonwealth Championship over Widener

GRANTHAM, Pa. – On Saturday evening, the Messiah University women's basketball team used a dominant effort to win their 16th conference championship in program history with a 74-46 win over the Pride of Widener University. The Falcons jumped to a 19-9 lead in the first quarter. The Falcons continued to increase their lead in the second, outscoring the Pride by seven, to take a 36-19 lead at the half. The Falcons dominated in the third, outscoring the Pride 23-9 to take a 59-28 lead headed into the final quarter. The Pride outscored the Falcons by three in the fourth, but the Falcons already built up their lead and they earned the 74-46 win. Reese Harden earned MAC Commonwealth Championship MVP after totaling 24 points, four rebounds, four assists, and three steals. Liv Monturo totaled 13 points, four rebounds, three assists, one block, and one steal. Chloe Milanesi added 11 points and Charlotte Milanesi totaled 10 points.
 
Up next, the Falcons earn an automatic bid to the 2025 DIII NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament. The selection show will start at 2:30 p.m. on Monday, March 3 on NCAA.com.

First Quarter
After the two teams traded baskets in the first two minutes of the game, the Falcons went on a 10-0 run to take a 15-5 lead with 4:33 remaining in the first. Chloe Milanesi started the run with a three and Reese Harden ended the run with a layup. Both teams added four points in the final four minutes to give the Falcons a 19-9 lead after the first. Reese Harden scored all four points for the Falcons during the stretch.
 
Second Quarter
The Falcons opened the second strong with an 8-0 run to extend their lead to 18 with seven minutes remaining in the half. Liv Monturo led the Falcons with five points during the run. The two teams then went back and forth, trading baskets, and the Falcons kept a 33-19 lead with just over a minute remaining in the second. Ainsley Bell, EmmyFaith Wood, and Charlotte Milanesi each added a basket during the stretch for the Falcons. The Falcons ended the half with three straight points in the final minute to take a 36-19 lead into the break. Hope Cook scored on a free throw and Liv Monturo added a basket for the three points in the final minute.
 
Third Quarter
The scoring slowed down in the first three and a half minutes of the third, with Reese Harden scoring the only basket during the stretch. After the two teams traded baskets, the Falcons dominated the final five minutes of the third with a 17-5 run to take a commanding 59-28 lead headed into the final quarter. Reese Harden led the Falcons with eight points and Chloe Milanesi added six points for the Falcons during the run.
 
Fourth Quarter
Each team opened the fourth scoring five points to hold the Falcons lead at 31. Liv Monturo and Charlotte Milanesi each scored a basket for the Falcons during the stretch. The Falcons then quickly went on a 6-2 run to extend their lead to 70-35. Hope Cook, Charlotte Milanesi, and Reese Harden each scored a basket for the Falcons during the run. The Pride ended the game with an 11-4 run, but the Falcons lead was too big for any late comeback attempt and the Falcons earned the MAC Commonwealth Championship with a 74-46 win. Lydia Ehst and Ainsley Bell scored the final two baskets for the Falcons.
 
Stats
Reese Harden earned MAC Commonwealth Championship MVP after totaling 24 points, four rebounds, four assists, and three steals. Liv Monturo totaled 13 points, four rebounds, three assists, one block, and one steal. Chloe Milanesi added 11 points, three rebounds, two assists, one block, and one steal. Charlotte Milanesi also totaled 10 points, four rebounds, four steals, and three assists. EmmyFaith Wood added seven points, four rebounds, two assists, and a steal off the bench for the Falcons. Messiah shot 51.9 percent from the field and 46.2 percent from three. The Pride shot 31.3 percent from the field and 15.4 percent from three. The Falcons defense also wreaked havoc on the Pride offense all night forcing 24 turnovers.
 
Next
The Falcons earn an automatic bid to the 2025 DIII NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament. The selection show will start at 2:30 p.m. on Monday, March 3 on NCAA.com.