Eagles' Steady Offense Quells Lightning
MIDDLETOWN, Pa. - The Juniata women's basketball team tallied 30 points from three-pointers and maintained the advantage gained from a 25-point third quarter in a 73-60 victory over Lehman College to open the Pride-Spirit-Honor tournament on Wednesday evening.
The Eagles and the Lighting traded points early in the first quarter, with Juniata drawing an 8-4 lead off a Haily Sherman jump shot and a Kynnedy Miller rebound and layup. Three combined turnovers in the next two seconds followed, and Lehman got back within one with a layup and a converted free throw. Bri Bodtorf drove and put in a layup for a 10-7 advantage. Lehman soon leveled the score line to force an Eagles timeout. Dani Scipioni stole a long-range pass and found Sherman, who hit Emma Coolidge to take the lead again. The Lightning promptly responded with a free-throw conversion and a layup following a few missed shots. Emily McCann's three-pointer from the left side rounded out the first with Juniata in control 15-13.
Miller opened the second with a layup on a breakaway, but the Lightning promptly responded with three-straight layups for a 19-17 lead. Coolidge then found Aleya Eisenberg, who put the game level at 19 apiece. It took a couple of minutes for the next score to occur, with the Lightning again snagging the lead on a layup with six minutes left in the half. Miller drove for a layup and converted after earning a foul for a 22-21 JC lead. A Bodtorf layup, a Sherman free throw, and a layup from Sherman gave Juniata a six-point cushion with a few minutes remaining. Lehman tallied four points, followed by a pair of Coolidge free throws and a three-pointer from Miller. Lehman wrapped up the half with a layup giving Juniata a 32-28 lead with 20 minutes to play.
In the third quarter, Juniata put up 25 points to the Lightning's 14, led by 10 points from Sherman. Lehman put two points in before Bodtorf sank a three. The Lightning responded with a three of their own. Juniata began to establish a game in the next couple of plays with a jumper from Sarah Betts, an assist from Miller, and a layup from Betts to go 10 points up. From there, threes from Bodtorf, Miller, and Sherman lead the Eagles on a consistent 14-9 stretch to end the fourth quarter.
Juniata maintained the lead in the fourth quarter going 16-18. The fourth featured a pair of three-pointers from Eisenberg, a three from Betts, and five points from Coolidge.
Juniata accumulated 30 points from three-point field goals with a 50% conversion right, while 58 points came within the paint as they posted a season-high 73 points in the victory.
Sherman led the Eagles in scoring with a season-high 15 points off six field goals and two three-pointers. She also had a team-high five assists, six rebounds, and three steals.
Bodtorf led the Eagles in rebounds (eight) and steals (four) while posting 14 points and two assists.
Miller totaled 13 points with a pair of assists and steals.
Eisenberg sank two threes in the fourth quarter with four field goals for a team-high ten points off the bench, a career-high figure.
Coolidge also posted a career-high for points with nine total, including three field goals and three free throws made.
Juniata will play for a tournament championship as they square off with hosts Penn State Harrisburg at 3:00 pm on Sunday for the Pride-Spirit-Honor Tournament gold. The Eagles do have a 2-0 record against the Lions, including a 67-52 victory early in the 2021-22 season. They'll be facing the Lions following their 86-57 victory over Clarks Summit.