(Posted February 15, 2005)

Susquehanna 74, Juniata 73

Selinsgrove, PA. ? The games keep getting closer and closer, but the Juniata College women?s basketball team was again unable to pull out a victory as Susquehanna?s Jenn Clark hit a pair of free throws with 1.5 seconds left to hand Juniata a 74-73 set-back in Commonwealth play in Selinsgrove Tuesday evening. Juniata now sits at 5-18 overall and 1-12 in conference play, while the Crusaders improved to 11-13 overall and 6-7 in the conference.

After a pair of Clark free throws gave the home team the edge with 28 seconds left, Juniata came back and got a hoop from Katie O?Brien (South Western/Hanover) off an assist from Mindy Werner (West York/York) to pull back in front with 16 seconds left in the game. On the ensuing possession for Susquehanna Ruth Williamson missed a lay-up and Skyra Blanchard?s put-back attempt was no good before Clark grabbed the offensive board and was fouled by O?Brien. Clark converted the two free throws?the 38th and 39th attempts from the line for the game for the Crusaders, and then Werner?s desperation attempt from just inside mid-court went off the backboard and rim before bouncing away as the buzzer sounded.

The second half was back-and-forth throughout as the game was tied seven times and neither team led by more than seven points. Juniata took the seven-point edge with a lay-up from Courtney Callas (Freeport/Sarver) with 12:02 but Susquehanna quickly answered with a 9-1 run to pull in front by a point at the 10:46 mark. From there the largest lead was four points as Juniata led by four after a lay-up from O?Brien with 1:36 remaining. A three-point play from Blanchard cut the margin to one, then Susquehanna pulled back in front on its next possession with Clark?s free throws.

The Crusaders did much of their damage at the line?particularly in the second-half?as they shot 17-of-27 from the line. And while Juniata shot 57-percent from the field in the final 20 minutes, Susquehanna countered by pounding the offensive glass as they out-rebounded Juniata 23-4 on the offensive end.

Juniata was in control for most of the first half leading by as many as nine in the first 20 minutes. A three from Jess Winemiller (Dallastown/York) put Juniata in front by nine at the 10:49 mark of the first half. The edge stayed as big as eight until the final minute, but Susquehanna closed the half on a 5-0 run to take some momentum into halftime.

Lesley Snoby (Johnstown/Johnstown) was one shy of matching her career high as she led five Eagles in double figures with 17 points on 7-of-13 shooting from the field. Winemiller scored 13 while O?Brien and Ali Meckey (Bishop Carroll/Ebensburg) both scored 12. Kristen Kirk (Newport/Newport) added 10 as the Eagles record their third-highest point total of the season.

Clark finished with a game high 22 points as she went 14-of-18 from the foul line and also pulled down 16 rebounds. Sarah Jane Kalejta and Williamson both added 13 for the home team, with Blanchard chipping in 11.

Juniata will play its season finale at Lebanon Valley on Saturday.

JUNIATA (73): O?Brien 4 4-6 12, Snoby 7 2-4 17, Mechey 3 3-4 12, Walsh 2 0-0 4, Kirk 4 0-0 10, Callas 1 3-4 5, Rhoads 0 0-0 0, Werner 0 0-0 0, Winemiller 5 0-0 13. Totals ? 26 12-18 73

SUSQUEHANNA (74): Letcavage 3 2-6 8, Clark 4 14-18 22, Blanchard 3 5-6 11, Kalejta 6 0-3 13, Williamson 5 2-4 13, Houseal 0 0-0 0, Carlson 0 0-0 0, Evans 3 1-2 7, Schneck 0 0-0 0. Totals ? 24 24-39 74

Halftime: Juniata 31-28. 3-point goals: Juniata 9 (Meckey 3, Winemiller 3, Kirk 2, Snoby); Susquehanna 2 (Kalejta, Williamson). Assists: Juniata 21 (Callas, Werner, Winemiller 4); Susquehanna 9 (Schneck 3). Rebounds: Juniata 28 (O?Brien, Meckey, Winemiller 5); Susquehanna 47 (Clark 16).
Records: Juniata (5-18); Susquehanna (11-13).

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