GRANTHAM, Pa. – Eastern University Women's Basketball kept the game tight for 27 minutes, but the No. 12 Messiah University Falcons closed the game of a 31-to-5 run to pull away to a 72-38 win. Naomi Harris led the Eagles with 11 points in the loss.

Eastern (0-8) battled the unbeaten Falcons through the low-scoring first half Mikayla Wright hit a jumper two and a half minutes into the second quarter to pull the Eagles to within a single possession at 14-11. While the Falcons built a little cushion, Naomi Harris closed out hte scoring in the first half with a 3-pointer from the right wing to pull her squad to within seven at 27-20. 

Eastern shot just 33 Percent (9-for-27) from the floor through the first half, but the host Falcons were only able to convert 9--of-24 (37.5%). As they would for the game, the MAC Commonwealth leading Falcons had a decisive advantage at the foul line. Eastern went 1-for-3 in the opening twenty minutes, and Messiah made 8-of-10. The Falcons finished the game 19-of-22 from the stripe. 

After a rough start to the second half, the Eagles found their best stretch of the game and forced an 11-0 run over a two minute stretch. Naomi Harris started the stretch on a nice finish of a MaryKate McLaughlin pass.Jaelyn Harris then made a 3-pointer after a Naomi Harris steal. Jaelyn Harris then made a pair of free throws before back-to-back inside baskets from Naomi Harris and Mikayla Wright. 

Then the Falcon defense took over the game. The Eagles managed just two made baskets over the final twelve and a half minutes. The Falcons were 9-of-14 from the floor in the fourth quarter. 

Wright joined Naomi Harris in double figures with 10 points. The Eagles finished 2-of-12 from behind the arc in the contest. 

Eastern will learn the team's final opponent this weekend. The top two teams in the MAC Freedom and the MAC Comonwealth will compete in a Championship game. each of the other teams will play a crossover game against a squad from the other league.