(Posted January 31, 2006)

Messiah 71, Juniata 40

GRANTHAM, Pa. ? Despite hanging with conference leader Messiah College for a half, a second-half shooting slump proved to be the difference as the Eagles dropped a 71-40 decision to Messiah in Grantham Tuesday night.

Jess Winemiller (Dallastown/York) scored a team-high 16 points for Juniata which fell to 9-11 overall and 2-7 in conference action. The Falcons raised their record to 18-2 on the season and are 8-1 in Commonwealth play.

Juniata hung tough in the first 20 minutes as Winemiller scored 10 of her 16 in the first half to keep Juniata within striking distance. The Eagles also were able to get to the offensive glass as they pulled in nine offensive boards to stay close, despite shooting just 34 percent from the field. The Eagles efforts sent them into the locker room trailing by just eight 32-24.

But the cold shooting would continue to be a problem in the second half as the Eagles shut just 28 percent from the field and were held to 16 points. Meanwhile the Falcons hit 12-of-22 shots from the field in the final 20 minutes and knocked down 13 free throws to pull away as the second half progressed.

Juniata continued its dominance on the boards as they outrebounded the home team 34-25 on the game, but hurt themselves with 26 turnovers overall.

Winemiller scored her 16 points on 6-of-11 shooting from the field. Katie O?Brien (South Western/Hanover) chipped in eight points and added a team-best nine rebounds for the Eagles in the contest.

Eli Cook scored a game-high 17 points for the Falcons and also grabbed a team-high seven rebounds. Nicki Lobach was also in double figures with 14 points. Sarah Ringer and Amy Reed each passed out three assists.

Juniata gets back in action on Saturday with a home game against Widener. The Juniata women?s basketball alumni game will also take place Saturday morning in Memorial Gym.

JUNIATA (40): Meckey 3 0-0 7, Walsh 0 0-0 0, Kirk 1 0-0 3, Winemiller 6 3-7 16, O?Brien 4 0-0 8, Callas 1 2-2 4, Rhoads 0 0-0 0, Piccolini 0 0-0 0, Werner 0 0-0 0, Ritchie 0 0-0 0, Hauser 0 0-0 0, Ashcraft 1 0-1 2, Snoby 0 0-0 0. Totals ? 16 6-10 40.

MESSIAH (71): Reed 3 0-0 6, Cook 7 2-5 17, Avery 0 1-2 1, Lobach 3 8-8 14, Ringer 4 0-0 8, Kalb 0 1-2 1, Tygert 0 0-0 0, Wenrich 3 3-4 9, Schurr 3 0-0 9, Brooks 1 4-4 6, Groves 0 0-0 0, Sweitzer 0 0-0 0, Erichsen 0 0-0 0. Totals ? 24 20-25.

Halftime: Messiah 32-24. 3-point goals: Juniata 2 (Meckey, Kirk); Messiah 3 (Schurr 3). Assists: Juniata 5 (Meckey, Kirk, Winemiller, Callas, Werner 1); Messiah 14 (Reed, Ringer 3). Rebounds: Juniata 34 (O?Brien 9); Messiah 25 (Cook 7).

Records: Juniata (9-11, 2-7 Commonwealth), Messiah (18-2, 8-1 Commonwealth).

###

Our readers respond...

Be the first to provide a response.

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