ST. DAVIDS, Pa.- In the last basketball test before finals week,
Eastern Women's Basketball dropped a 76-59 decision to Juniata College.
Meghan Nowak made all twelve of her free throw attempts to finish with a
game-high 22 points.
The Eastern Eagles fell behind 9-2 out of
the gate before going on an 8-2 run to pull within a point on a
three-point play from Nowak. The two teams traded points over the next
three minutes, but Eastern was not able to grab the lead. Nowak again
brought the Eagles to within a point at 16-15 on another three point
play off a good entry pass from Kelsie Patton.
In nine consecutive
possessions over the next six minutes, the Eagles came up empty with
five turnovers and seven missed shots. The visiting Juniata Eagles built
the lead to ten points. Freshman forward Tori Grossi split a pair of
free throws to snap the run, but Juniata (5-1) scored six of the final
nine points of the half to hold a 31-19 lead.
Nowak had eight
points and ten rebounds at the break, but the Eagles were only 6-of-23
from the floor and committed 18 turnovers. Juniata's Kate McDonald, made
8-of-11 shots for 17 points at the break. Juniata scored 21 points off
Eastern's turnovers.
In the second half, the Eastern team
improved its shooting to with and 11-of-23 performance and committed
only five turnovers, but the visiting Eagles found more easy baskets in
transition and on offensive rebounds. Juniata made 15-of-28 shots after
half.
With Juniata scoring with efficiency, Eastern was unable to
bring the deficit inside of double-figures through the second period.
Nowak's performance at the line sets a new Eastern standard for makes in
a game without a miss. The sophomore forward has made 19 straight foul
shots and 24 of her last 25.
Kaitlyn Dougherty finished with 12
points and Patton added seven points and three assists off the bench.
McDonald scored only two points in the second half, but led the balanced
Juniata attack with 19. Alix Sellers scored 11.
Eastern (4-5) will break for finals and will play again at Haverford College next Saturday.
Box Score
