Basketball Programs Picked to Finish Top 3 in Landmark
HUNTINGDON, Pa. – Both the men’s and women’s basketball programs have been tagged to finish top three in the Landmark Conference this season. The men finished second in the preseason poll with two first place votes and 44 points, while the women were third in their respective poll with one first place vote and 43 points.
HUNTINGDON, Pa. – Both the men's and women's basketball programs have been tagged to finish top three in the Landmark Conference this season. The men finished second in the preseason poll with two first place votes and 44 points, while the women were third in their respective poll with one first place vote and 43 points.
Juniata men's head coach Greg Curley led the Eagles to their first 19-win season in program history last year. He is the programs winningest coach with 136 wins under his belt and a .477 career win-loss percentage. They went 19-10 overall, 9-5 in the Landmark and made a trip to the conference championship game where they fell to Scranton 78-70.
The Eagles then went on to the Eastern Colleges Athletic Conference (ECAC) Tournament and advanced to the Regional Semifinal before bowing out to Alvernia in a tough 65-62 loss (March 3, 2012). They will look to the senior leadership of second-team all-conference guard Alex Raymond (Hollidaysburg, Pa./Altoona) and forward Nate Higgins (St. Mary's, Pa./Elk County Catholic) to help lead them back to the championship game, and this time for a title.
Scranton was picked to place first in the Landmark with 62 points and five first place votes. Catholic and Susquehanna tied for third in the poll with 38 points. Catholic received one first place vote.
The women went undefeated in league play (14-0) last year, 26-3 overall, before falling to Catholic 79-69 in the Landmark title game (Feb. 25, 2012). They received an at-large bid to the NCAA Division III Tournament but fell in the second round to end the season. Despite losing All-American Ashley Bankos, Juniata returns three of their five starters from their historic season.
D3Hoops.com Preseason All-American Kate McDonald (Pa. Furnace, Pa./State College Area) provides the size in the paint while senior guards Natalie Glinsky (Indiana, Pa./Indiana) and Jordan Speck (Huntingdon, Pa./Huntingdon Area) bring the range around the arch. Ranked as high as 10th last year, the Eagles are currently receiving votes in two different polls, and are picked to finish behind Catholic and Scranton in the Landmark Conference.
"I like the position we're in," said women's head coach Danny Young-Uhrich. "It's fun to be 'under dogs'. Both Catholic and Scranton are quality teams so between the three of us, it can be anyone's year."
Catholic was picked to finish first with 67 points and six first place votes. Scranton received one first place vote and 50 points.
Both the men's and women's programs open the 2012-13 season this weekend at tournaments. The women travel to LaRoche for their Tip-Off Classic, facing St. Vincent on Friday, Nov. 16 at 6 p.m. and Thiel on Saturday, Nov. 17 at 2 p.m.
The men open their season at home hosting the Coaches vs. Cancer Tournament Friday, Nov. 16-17 in the Kennedy Sports + Recreation Center. The Eagles will face Kean on Friday, Nov. 16 at 7:30 p.m. after Mt. Aloysius and Penn State Altoona battle at 5:30 p.m. The winners of Friday's contests will play for the tournament championship on Saturday, Nov. 17 at 4 p.m. after the consolation game at 2 p.m.
Fans who can't make it to Memorial Gymnasium this weekend can still watch the men's games on juniatasports.net as well as follow on live stats.
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