GRANTHAM, Pa. – On Saturday afternoon, the Messiah University basketball team defeated the Pride of Widener University, 62-52. the Pride started the game strong and took a 20-17 lead into the second quarter. The Falcons battled back in the second and outscored the Pride by seven to take a 31-27 lead at the half. The Falcons continued the momentum and outscored the Pride by six to take a 44-34 lead at the end of the third. Both teams scored 18 points in the fourth and the Falcons earned the 62-52 win. Liv Monturo led the Falcons with 25 points, nine rebounds, and two blocks. Charlotte Milanesi totaled 11 points, six assists, five rebounds, and four steals. Hope Cook added 10 points and two assists.
 
Up next, the Falcons travel to St. Davids, Pa. to take on the Eagles of Eastern University on Wednesday, Feb. 11 at 7:00 p.m.
 
First Quarter
The Pride opened the game strong with a 6-0 run in the first minute and 40 seconds to take the early lead. The Falcons then responded with a quick 5-0 run to reduce the Pride's early lead to one. EmmyFaith Wood scored all five points for the Falcons during the run. The Pride then went on a 7-0 run to extend their lead to 13-5 with six minutes remaining in the first. After some back-and-forth play, the Falcons closed the first with an 8-3 run to reduce the Pride's lead to 20-17 at the end of the first. Charlotte Milanesi started the run with a jumper and Liv Monturo ended the run with four-straight points.
 
Second Quarter
The Falcons opened the second outscoring the Pride, 4-1 to tie the game at 21 with just under eight minutes remaining in the half. Marisa Amitie and Liv Monturo each scored two points for the Falcons during the stretch. Both teams locked down on defense as the next point was not scored until the three-minute mark. The Falcons then outscored the Pride by four to close the second with a 31-27 lead. Monturo led the Falcons in the stretch with six points and Ainsley Bell and Charlotte Milanesi each added a basket.
 
Third Quarter
The Falcons opened the third with an 8-2 run to push their lead 39-29 with just under five minutes remaining in the quarter. The run was started by a layup from Charlotte Milanesi and ended with a jumper from Liv Monturo. The Pride outscored the Falcons 5-2 and looked to take the momentum into the fourth, but Hope Cook drained a three at the end of the third to push the Falcons lead to 44-34 headed into the final quarter.
 
Fourth Quarter
The Falcons opened the fourth strong with five-straight quick points to push their lead to 15. Liv Monturo tallied a bucket, and a free throw and Marisa Amitie added a layup for the Falcons during the run. The Pride then went on a 9-2 run to reduce the Falcons lead to eight with 5:50 remaining in the fourth. The Falcons then responded with a 9-0 run to push their lead to 17 with 2:20 remaining in the game. Hope Cook started the run with a three and Monturo capped off the run with a layup. The Pride ended the game with a 9-2 run, but the Falcons lead was too large, and Messiah earned the 62-52 win.
 
Stats
Liv Monturo led the Falcons with 25 points, nine rebounds, and two blocks. Charlotte Milanesi totaled 11 points, six assists, five rebounds, and four steals. Hope Cook added 10 points and two assists. Marisa Amitie tallied six points, six rebounds, and two assists. The Falcons shot 44.8 percent from the field and 15.8 percent from three. The Pride shot 38.8 percent from the field and 20 percent from behind the arc.
 
Next
The Falcons travel to St. Davids, Pa. to take on the Eagles of Eastern University on Wednesday, Feb. 11 at 7:00 p.m.