GRANTHAM, Pa. - Senior Leanne Bittner tied her career-high with 13 saves but No. 16 Messiah outscored the Stevenson women's lacrosse team 7-3 in the second half as the Mustangs fell 11-6 in the Commonwealth Conference Championship game Saturday afternoon at Anderson Field.

The Mustangs (12-7), who were making their third-straight appearance in the Commonwealth Conference championship game, had their eight-game win streak snapped after scoring a season-low six goals for the second time.

Messiah (14-4) won their fourth conference championship, and first since 2011, and will advance to their fifth NCAA Division III Women's Lacrosse Championship receiving the conference's automatic bid.

The two teams combined for seven goals in the opening half, with four of them coming in the final five minutes. The Falcons struck first with the 41st goal of the season by Claire Stikeleather before senior Kathryn Merrick scored her 48th goal to tie the game at 1-1.

With 4:04 remaining and trailing 3-2, freshman Nicki Pate scored a free-position goal to cut the Mustangs deficit to one but the goal was called back as Stevenson was whistled for an illegal stick.

The Falcons were awarded a free-position goal with Bittner positioned five feet away from the crease but Bittner quickly recovered and came up with her eighth save of the opening half.

However, the Mustangs turned the ball over for the 10th time in the half leading to a goal by Stephanie Athens to extend the hosts lead to 4-1 with 2:26 remaining. Stevenson totaled 14 turnovers in the opening 30 minutes.

Junior Carli Bafford, who scored the game-winning goal in the championship game a season ago, put Stevenson on the board for the first time in a 17:38 span with a free-position goal from the center hash beating the keeper with a low bounce shot stick side.

After the ensuing draw control, sophomore Olivia Monteiro found freshman Hollie Larrimore wide open in front of the net for the Mustangs second goal in a 20-second span to get back within one.

Messiah held the ball for the final shot but Bittner came up with another big stop to keep the deficit at one entering the break. Bittner totaled nine saves in the opening half.

The Falcons scored four of the first five goals in the second half, including two goals in the opening 3:41 to extend their lead back to three. A goal by sophomore Brady Heher stopped Messiah's run momentarily but the Falcons would score three-straight to push their lead to 11-5.

Madi Brunk was named the Most Outstanding Player of the tournament after totaling three goals in the championship game.

The selection show for the 2015 NCAA Division III Women's Lacrosse Championship will be Sunday, May 3 beginning at 9:30 p.m. The show will be aired live on NCAA.com.