By: Jennifer Jones
Director of Sports Information
jonesj@juniata.edu • juniatasports.net
SCRANTON, Pa. – The Juniata College women's basketball team dropped a 75-57 decision to the University of Scranton Saturday afternoon on the road. Scranton (11-2) improved to 3-0 in Landmark Conference play. Juniata dropped to 7-6 (0-2 Landmark) with the loss.
Sophomore Paige Dennison (East Berlin, Pa./Bermudian Springs) finished with a team-high 15 points going a career-best 13-for-16 from the free throw line. Seniors Kate McDonald (Pennsylvania Furnace, Pa./State College Area) and Jordan Hileman (Williamsburg, Pa./Williamsburg) also netted double figure points. McDonald earned her third straight double-double, 10th of the season, with 12 points and 10 boards, also grabbing a game-high six steals. Hileman put in 11 points of her own, respectively, with seven rebounds.
Juniata went down by as much as 16 points in the first half before chipping away at the Royals lead. After a timeout with 6:14 on the clock, the Eagles went on a 6-0 run. They then traded baskets with Scranton until closing the half with a 5-0 run to pull within six, 35-29.
The Eagles continued the momentum into the second half and cut the deficit to four. But Scranton began to pull away, leading by as many as 21 points. Juniata never gave up, fighting for every possession and every basket down the stretch until they found themselves down 11 with under three minutes to play. However, the Royals were able to keep Juniata scoreless and hold on for the win.
Juniata remains on the road, taking on Catholic University of America Wednesday, Jan. 15 before they finally return home after a five-game road stint in a doubleheader with the men's team against Drew University on Saturday, Jan. 18. The men tipoff at 2 p.m. with the women following at 4 p.m.
The Eagles are 11-1 all-time against Drew in a rivalry that dates back to the 1975-76 season. Juniata came away with a 96-48 win the last time the Rangers came to Huntingdon.
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