(Posted December 14, 2004)

Juniata 76, York (Pa.) 70

York, Pa. ? After suffering a tough overtime loss in its previous game, the Juniata College women?s basketball team needed show what kind of resiliency it possessed. The early answer seems to be a positive one as the Eagles overcame a 16-point first-half deficit to claim a comeback 76-70 victory over York College Tuesday night in York.

Juniata (3-5) took the lead for good when Katie O?Brien (South Western/Hanover) scored two of her career-high 23 points to put Juniata in front 64-63. Jess Winemiller (Dallastown/York) and Kristen Kirk (Newport/Newport) followed with back-to-back threes. York got back within four after a three from Heather Kessler, but Jeny Killen (Bishop Carroll/Ebensburg) and Jill Walsh (Ferndale/Johnstown) each knocked down a pair of free throws in the final minute to seal the victory.

O?Brien finished with 23 points on 11-of-15 shooting from the field while also pulling in seven rebounds. Winemiller added 20 points team-bests with eight rebounds and six steals, with Kirk chipping in 15 points. Killen also finished with eight boards and while leading the team with five assists.

Kristen Daly led three Spartans in double figures with 18 points and eight rebounds. Kessler and Jess Kemp scored 16 apiece for York which dropped its third-straight game to fall to 4-5 on the year. Three players finished with four assists for the home team.

Juniata?s first lead of the second half came following a Winemiller lay-up at the 11:16 mark. The Eagles pulled in front by three, but York answered with a 4-0 run to climb back into the lead. O?Brien gave Juniata the edge again with a basket, but the lead went back the Spartans after baskets from Daly and Kessler to move back in front. O?Brien followed with four straight points, giving Juniata the lead for good.

Juniata was forced to rally after a hot first half from the home team. With the game tied at 17 York put together a 16-2 run to take a 33-19 lead with 4:36 remaining in the half. The lead grew to 15 with 3:32 left, but Juniata closed the half by scoring nine of the final 12 points to go to the locker room trailing 39-30.

Juniata will be back in action on December 30 when Juniata plays at Olivet.

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