DIV 3

Falcons Prevail in Nailbiter Over Shenandoah in NCAA First Round

The Messiah women's basketball team rallied from an eight-point fourth quarter deficit to defeat the Shenandoah University Hornets 58-57 in the First Round of the NCAA Tournament on Friday evening. The Falcons advance to take on the Smith Pioneers in the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament tomorrow night at 7:00 p.m. in Northhampton, Mass. The Pioneers earned a 61-46 victory over Maine Maritime in their opening round game on Friday.
 
The Falcons and Hornets played a tight first quarter with a 9-9 tie. The offense opened up in the second quarter and Shenandoah took a 24-23 lead headed into the half. Shenandoah controlled the third quarter and went into the fourth quarter with a six-point lead. The Falcons trailed by eight with six minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, but the Falcons would not go down without a fight. The Falcons then went on a 13-2 run to take a three-point lead with just under two minutes remaining in the game. Shenandoah retook the lead and after two missed free throws by the Hornets, Reese Harden ended the game with three straight points, including the game winning free throw with two seconds on the clock to give the Falcons a 58-57 win.