(Posted January 2, 2010)

HUNTINGDON, Pa. -- Juniata College forward Kelly Rotan's (Atco, N.J./Hammonton) three-pointer in the final minute capped a second half comeback that carried the Eagles to a 65-62 win over St. Mary's College of Maryland, in Saturday's first game of the Juniata Holiday Tournament at the Kennedy Sports + Recreation Center.

Rotan drained her trey from near the top of the arc off a pass from Ashton Bankos (York, Pa./York Catholic) with 23 seconds remaining, breaking a 62-62 deadlock. With the shot clock winding down, Bankos made a move toward the basket and brought the Seahawk defense down upon her â?" and leaving Rotan unguarded as she rotated out toward the top of the three-point arc.

St. Mary's (2-8) had knotted the game up 32 seconds earlier on a Jamie Roberts' layup. The Seahawks had pulled to within one point of the Eagles twice in the previous two minutes, but were unable to complete to pull even with Juniata.

Juniata (6-5) trailed St. Mary's for much of the contest. The Seahawks charged out to a 15-3 lead over the first seven minutes of the contest, led by Steph Saint-Aubin's six points.

The Eagles pulled to within three points of the Seahawks twice in the final four minutes of the opening frame - the last occurring at the 1:45 mark of the half on a Brittany Danel (Stoystown, Pa./North Star) jumper - but St. Mary's answered with a pair of foul shots and a three-pointer by Pui Sham and a two-point bucket by Jasmine Jones, and went into the locker room at the intermission with a 37-29 lead.

Juniata finally regained the lead at the 17:11 mark of the second half on a three-pointer by Rotan. The Eagles, who shot 37.9 percent (11-29) over the first half - and at one point in the opening frame were shooting as low as 14.3 percent - rebounded to shoot 44.4 percent (12-27) in the second stanza.

The Seahawks dominated the Eagles on the boards, outrebounding Juniata 41-22. However St. Mary's was handicapped by its 29 turnovers, which led to 25 points for Juniata. A St. Mary's squad that shot a scorching 68.2 percent (15-22) in the first half saw that shooting percentage cool significantly in the second half; the Seahawks were just 10-of 28 (35.7 percent) from the floor in the second 20 minutes.

Hnatuck finished with 17 points and six rebounds to lead Juniata offensively, while Rotan tallied 11 points. Danel and Bankos each had three assists and four steals.

Roberts led St. Mary's with 20 points, while Sham and Saint-Aubin each logged 12 points in the losing effort. Saint-Aubin also hauled down 11 rebounds to complete the double-double.

Juniata will face Manhattanville College in Sunday's championship game at 3:00 p.m.; Manhattanville defeated Cabrini College, 76-64, in Saturday's second opening round game. Cabrini and St. Mary's will square off in the consolation game at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday.

MANHATTANVILLE 76, CABRINI 64

HUNTINGDON, Pa. -�¢?" Manhattanville College had four players in double figures as it posted a 76-64 win over Cabrini College, in Saturday's second game of the Juniata Holiday Tournament at the Kennedy Sports + Recreation Center.

Manhattanville (6-3) led virtually wire-to-wire, building as much as a 17-point lead, 45-28, with 1:09 remaining in the first half.

Cabrini (3-5) began chipping away at the Valiants' lead in the second half, and briefly held a two-point lead, 58-56, at the 6:33 mark of the second following a Julie Bonomo jumper. Manhattanville answered with a pair of baskets and a free-throw by Taylor Wilson to grab a 61-58 lead, which Cabrini erased with a Bonomo three-pointer with 5:00 showing on the clock.

Manhattanville regained the lead with a 10-0 run over the next four minutes, putting the game out of reach.

Courtney Turner led Manhattanville with 20 points, while Simona Gordon had 13 points while dishing out five assists.

Cabrini was paced by Alyssa Brady's 26 points, with Kate Walck contributing 17 for the Cavaliers.

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