(Posted November 23, 2004)

Juniata 71, Penn State-Altoona 62

Huntingdon, Pa. ? Kristen Kirk (Newport/Newport) scored 18 of her team-high 20 points during a Juniata second-half run that propelled the Eagles to a 71-62 win over Penn State-Altoona in Huntingdon Tuesday night. Juniata upped its record to 2-1 with the win, while Penn State-Altoona dropped to 0-3.

Trailing by two at the half, Juniata outscored the Lions 21-4 over the first seven minutes of the second half. Kirk scored 13 points during the run which left Juniata in front 45-30 at the 13:37 mark.

Penn State-Altoona cut the lead to six with 10:15 remaining in the half but the Eagles put together another run, this time pulling out to an 18-point lead with just 3:58 left in the game. A three from Jill Walsh (Ferndale/Johnstown) hit a three that extended the lead to 18. The Lions did make a late run as a pair of Juniata turnovers helped Penn State-Altoona score seven points in a 19-second span, but it was too little too late as Juniata sealed the win.

Juniata fell behind in the first half as the team struggled with its shooting. The Eagles shot 26-percent from the field over the first 20 minutes, and were just 1-of-12 from long-range in the first half. But Juniata forced the visitors into 18 turnovers in the first half to keep the game close. Penn State-Altoona lead by as many as seven, on three separate occasions, only to see Juniata end the half on a 6-1 run to pull within two.

Along with Kirk?s 20, Katie O?Brien (South Western/Hanover) notched a ?double-double? with 17 points and 12 rebounds. She also added five blocks and six steals, both of which lead the team. Walsh added 12 points, while Jess Winemiller (Dallastown/York) pitched in with 10. Mindy Werner (West York/York) passed out a team-high four assists.

Krystal Ferry was the game?s high scorer as she tossed in 21 points for Penn State-Altoona. Lindsey Barr was also in double figures with 12. Tara Stock also recorded a ?double-double? with 11 points and a game-high 15 rebounds.

Juniata will look to carry the momentum from this win into its conference opener against Messiah on November 30.

JUNIATA (71): Meckey 0 0-0 0, Walsh 5 0-1 12, Kirk 6 6-7 20, Winemiller 3 4-5 10, O?Brien 5 7-8 17, Callas 1 0-0 2, DeFrate 0 1-2 1, Rhoads 0 2-4 2, Werner 11-2 3, Harlacher 0 0-0 0, Killen 1 2-2 4, Snoby 0 0-0 0. Totals ? 22 23-31

PENN STATE-ALTOONA (62): Shields 3 2-2 8, Haulman 3 0-0 6, Barr 3 3-3 12, Stock 3 5-9 11, Ferry 5 8-11 21, Curley 0 0-0 0, Mielnik 0 0-0 0, McGowan 0 0-0 0, Poorman 0 1-2 1, Steiner 0 0-0 0, Shields 1 0-0 2, Gardner 0 1-3 1. Totals ? 18 20-30

Halftime: Penn State-Altoona 26-24. 3-point goals: Juniata 4 (Walsh 2, Kirk 2); Penn State-Altoona 6 (Barr 3, Ferry 3). Assists: Juniata 16 (Werner 4); Penn State-Altoona 8 (Shields 2, Ferry 2). Rebounds: Juniata 53 (O?Brien 12); Penn State-Altoona 35 (Stock 15).

Records: Juniata (2-1); Penn State-Altoona (0-3)

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Contact April Feagley at feaglea@juniata.edu or (814) 641-3131 for more information.