The University of Mary Washington women's basketball team fell to Messiah (RV) on Saturday afternoon, 44-37, in a defensive showdown in Fredericksburg, Va.

The Eagles got off to a quick start in the first quarter with a 13-0 run in the first quarter that started with Juliona Mabie's layup at the 9:26 mark. Then Rileigh Weaver added a bucket 45 seconds later to push the lead to 4-0, but Mabie added her second basket on the Eagles' next possession.

Weaver, with 7:47 mark in the first quarter, netted the Eagles' fourth basket -- a jumper that pushed the lead to 8-0, before Mabie added three free throws between the 6:25 and 5:59 mark. Jenna Steadman made a jumper with 4:57 to go in the first to cap off UMW's quick start.

The Falcons slowly cut into the Eagles' lead as UMW led by eight at the end of the first quarter, 15-7. In the second quarter Messiah outscored UMW by eight, 16-8, while the third went into the defensive battle with the two teams only netting eight points each. But in the final quarter the Falcons got the best of UMW, besting them by seven points, 13-6. 

Steadman led the way with 10 points for the Eagles on a 3-of-8 clip from the floor. The Eagles forced 21 turnovers, coming away with nine steals as Emma Terry had three of her own. The Falcons, though, got the better of UMW on the boards, leading the battle, 41-36.

For the game, UMW went 13-for-55 from the floor, which included a pair of 3-pointer's, and was 9-of-10 from the free throw line. On Messiah's end, it shot 17-for-51 (33.3%), and was held to just a 4-of-19 mark from deep (21.1%).

The Eagles are back in action on Sunday against Lynchburg in Fredericksburg, Va. Tip-off is set for 2 p.m.