YORK, PA – The Messiah University Falcons women's basketball squad rolled to their sixth straight win as they downed York 67-47 in MAC Commonwealth action on Saturday in York.
The Spartans, fresh off a pair of home Commonwealth wins, could not keep up the pace against the Falcons as Messiah shot 51% in the first half en route to a 20-point halftime lead.
The Falcons improve to 13-2 overall and remain perfect in the league at 4-0. The Spartans fall to 9-6 overall and 2-2 in the league.
 
How It Happened
• The Falcons raced out of the gate and took control of the game immediately. Messiah scored 14 of the game's first 18 points as they led by ten just over five minutes into the game. The Falcons were 7-for-10 from the floor while the Spartans were 2-for-3 from the floor but committed seven turnovers. The two teams would go back-and-forth over the remaining four minutes of the quarter as the Falcons had a 20-11 lead after 10 minutes of play.
• The second quarter started well for York as Breana Grim hit a lay up to start the quarter followed by a Taylor Burda three, cutting their deficit to six. That would be as close as York got the rest of the way. The Falcons put together a 10-3 spurt, extending their lead to 32-19. Burda hit a pair of free throws to cut the lead to 11. Unfortunately for York, the Falcons ended the half on a 10-1 run to push their lead to 20 (42-22) heading to the break.
• The Spartans killed themselves in the first half with 13 turnovers which Messiah turned into 12 points. The Falcons attempted 13 more shots than York in the first half while they also held an eight-rebound bulge in the intermission.
• The third quarter was lacking in much offensive production as both teams scored ten points in the stanza as the Falcons maintained their 20-point edge. Messiah pushed their lead to as many as 25 at 61-36 in the fourth quarter on a Reese Harden jumper that capped a 9-2 run. York scored 11 of the final 17 points of the game to provide for the final difference on the scoreboard.
 
By The Numbers
The Spartans shot 36.2% (17-for-47) from the floor including 2-of-13 (15.4%) from three while they were also 11-for-17 (64.7%) from the stripe … after their big first half, the Falcons cooled in the second as they finished the game shooting 42.2% (27-for-64) from the floor including 25% (4-for-16) from three … the Falcons made 9-of-12 from the stripe … the rebounding margin finished at 37-32 Messiah while the Falcons had a 9-4 edge in offensive rebounds … York held a 26-20 advantage in paint points for the game … Messiah assisted on 17 of their 27 field goals, their second-highest total of the season right behind the 22 they had on Wednesday against Alvernia … the Falcons had 15 steals for the game which tied their second-highest total of the season … York finished with 23 turnovers which the Falcons turned into 16 points … Chloe Milanesi led the Falcons with a strong all around game with 10 points, six rebounds, nine steals, and three blocked shots … Reese Harden had 14 points and four rebounds for the Falcons while Liv Monturo was the third Falcon in double figures with 12 points in addition to seven rebounds.
 
Spartan Notes
York has now lost six straight to the Falcons as Messiah leads the all-time series 28-8 … the Falcons 27 field goals was the second-highest total of the year allowed by the Spartans … York has allowed exactly 64 shots in each of their last three games … the Spartans' 47 field goal attempts is a season-low by five attempts while their 17 made field goals is their second lowest total of the year (16 vs. Gettysburg) … York's two made three-pointers are their lowest total of the season while their 13 attempts are tied for a season-low … York lost the battle on the glass for the tenth time this year and are now 4-6 when that happens … the Spartans had just nine assists in the game, their second lowest total of the year (8 vs. McDaniel & Gettysburg) … the Spartans' 23 turnovers were their highest total of the campaign … the Falcons' 15 steals were the most by an opponent this year … Grad Morgan Adams was the lone Spartan in double figures with 11 points while she also had five rebounds, a steal and a blocked shot in her 26 minutes of play … Taylor Brenneman added eight points and a team-high seven rebounds for the Green and White … the seven rebounds are one short of her career high … Shealyn Ricks came of the bench and had five points, four rebounds, two assists, and two steals in her 24 minutes of work … Taylor Burda gave York a lift off the bench with eight points, an assist and a steal in 30 minutes.
 
Up Next
The Spartans kick off a two-game road trip on Wednesday when they head to Albright to take on the Lions in MAC Commonwealth play. Tip time in Reading is set for 6:00 pm.