Women’s basketball wins DeSales Tip-Off Tournament Classic and lands three all-tournament spots

CENTER VALLEY, Pa. – Juniata College women's basketball swept DeSales University 59-43, in Starter Pub's DeSales Tip-Off Tournament Classic Saturday afternoon at Billera Gym.

Sophomore forward Kate McDonald (Pennsylvania Furnace, Pa./State College Area) led the Eagles' offensive charge with 16 points, the most she has posted in a game thus far this season, while simultaneously crashing the boards for a team-high seven rebounds. Junior Natalie Glinsky (Indiana, Pa./Indiana) rolled-in 12 points and chalked up four rebounds for Juniata (3-0).

Junior guard Jordan Speck (Huntingdon, Pa./Southern Huntingdon) and senior Ashton Bankos (York, Pa./York Catholic) each logged 11 points, 5 assists and that same number of rebounds. Speck found the net three times from beyond the three-point line, while Bankos posted a 63.6% shooting percentage, accompanied by five steals.

Juniata launched the game going on a 10-3 scoring run on DeSales (1-1), but nearly gave up its lead with just six minutes left in the first half as the Eagles were only leading 17-16. However, McDonald's jump shot two minutes later would put Juniata up by three points. With just 10 seconds left in the half, freshman Kelsey Livoti (Altoona, Pa./Bishop Guilfoyle) extended the Juniata lead with a jumper of her own to send the Eagles into the locker room holding a 21-16 lead. 

The Eagles entered the second half much like the first as they posted a 7-0 scoring run over the Bulldogs in the opening three minutes. Juniata continued to extend its lead throughout the remainder of the contest, highlighted by all of Speck's 11 points and 10 of McDonald's. The Eagles forced 12 Bulldog turnovers in the second 20 minutes of play, four of which directly resulted in a good Juniata bucket. 

Not only did the Eagles grab the tournament title, but Juniata also earned three slots on the all-tournament team. Bankos was deemed the MVP of the tournament for her 33-point, 14-rebound and 11-assist weekend. Speck and McDonald also landed spots on the all-tournament team for their outstanding performances against Widener and DeSales. Speck scored 11 points in each of the weekend's contests, and McDonald charted 19 points and that same number of rebounds. 

Women's hoops return home on Tuesday, Nov. 22 for a 6:00 p.m. contest against Mount Aloysius in the Kennedy Sports and Recreation Center.

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