By: Jennifer Jones
Director of Sports Information
jonesj@juniata.edu • juniatasports.net
HUNTINGDON, Pa. – The Juniata College women's basketball team had ups and downs over the course of the 2013-14 season. Plagued by injuries and small numbers, the Eagles had to overcome adversity and persevere through a tumultuous year. After starting the season 5-0, being ranked as high No. 24 in the USA Today/Coaches poll, Juniata found itself 7-8 overall and 0-4 in Landmark Conference play with less than a third of its season remaining.
The Eagles have never missed the postseason since joining the Landmark. And with a 2-7 league record heading into the final five games of the season, it looked like the streak was coming to an end. But they dug deep in spite of the setbacks and won out the regular season to earn a playoff berth for the seventh consecutive year.
"This year was a hard year," said head coach Danny Young-Uhrich. "Injuries are common in collegiate sports, but to have the amount of them in one year, it was deflating for the girls. As a coach you see it as an opportunity. You are giving girls the opportunity to step up. You can't do anything about injuries. We had to survive this season. With all that the team endured this year, making the postseason was really good."
The 2013-14 season marked the 10 consecutive year the Eagles have finished over .500. Juniata (14-12) statistically outperformed opponents in several categories. They averaged 70 points per game during the season, 5.4 points over their opponents average. They outrebounded opponents, picked up more assists and fewer turnovers, and stole more balls than their competition. Nationally, they were ranked top 100 in five categories including 16th in fewest fouls committed.
Returners
The Eagles were led by their two seniors: Jordan Hileman (Williamsburg, Pa./Williamsburg) and Kate McDonald (Pennsylvania Furnace, Pa./State College). Hileman ran point and spent more time on the court than any other Eagle, averaging over 34 minutes per game. She led the team in made three's and free throw percentage, and ended the year ranked nationally for assists per game and assist to turnover ratio. Hileman's performance this past season moved her to top 10 all-time in career assists and three point field goals.
McDonald made Juniata history in her final campaign. The 5-10 forward became only the third Juniata basketball player (male or female) to record 1,000 career points and 1,000 career rebounds. She finished her career ranked second all-time in career points, rebounds, and steals, while working her way into the top five for assists and blocks. Named Landmark Defensive Player of the Year, McDonald led the team in points, rebounds, blocks, and steals. She earned a Capital One CoSIDA Academic All-District selection, was voted an Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) all-star, and was named to a D3Hoops.com All-Region team. She ended the season ranked nationally in seven different categories, including 11th in steals per game and 14th in double doubles.
"Ending your career, playing pretty much every minute of every game and being such a vital role is what a lot of people want," said Young-Uhrich. "Kate and Jordan, their role on the team, not only in minutes, but people on the floor, were pretty important."
Junior Kelsey Livoti (Altoona, Pa./Bishop Guilfoyle) and sophomore Paige Dennison (East Berlin, Pa./Bermudian Springs) also stepped up in a big way. Livoti led the team with a .494 shooting percentage, and finished second in points, rebounds and blocks. This past season, she scored a career-high 27 points in the Eagles record setting 111-58 win over Frostburg State. She also grabbed a career-best 13 rebounds at Susquehanna.
Dennison was the only other Eagle to average double-digit points along with Livoti and McDonald. She ended the season third on the team in points and assists, and ranked nationally for field goal percentage. Dennison had her best offensive game in the 88-35 win over Merchant Marine when she netted a career-high 26 points.
"Kelsey came in big," said Young-Uhrich. "She played off of Kate really well. Paige is going to have more expectations. She has the ability. She is very versatile and can play anywhere."
Newcomers
All four of the Eagles newcomers contributed to the team and helped balance the squad. Freshman Olivia Halfpenny (McVeytown, Pa./Mifflin County) spent the most time on the court out of the group. Despite never starting, she appeared in all 26 games and was the fifth leading scorer and finished second in three point field goals, just one behind Hileman.
"Halfpenny struggled but she really stepped up," Young-Uhrich added. "She can definitely knock down a shot. She still has a ways to go, but I think when it comes to someone who gained momentum throughout the year, she is one."
Top Moments
Juniata performed huge upsets and set records during the season and it all started with the upset of long-time rival Messiah College at their tip-off tournament on November 16. The Eagles faced host Messiah in the tournament championship and held onto their halftime lead to defeat the Falcons 63-54. It was the first time Juniata had defeated Messiah since the 1993-94 season.
They followed that win with a record setting performance in the home opener against Frostburg State on November 20. The Eagles shot 61 percent from floor to put up 53 first half points, but it was their 58 point second half that tied the program record for points in a single half and helped them break the all-time single-game scoring record. Their 111-point performance broke the previous record of 104 set back in 2000. Young-Uhrich was a member of that 2000 team and remembered the moment the record was set.
Juniata had its best defensive stand of the season at Merchant Marine on January 25. While putting together two 44 point halves, the Eagles held Merchant Marine to just 16 first half points and 19 second half points. It marked a season low performance by the Mariners and helped the Eagles grab their second Landmark win of the season.
"When it comes to comparing the 100-point performance to the 35, I'll take the 35," Young-Uhrich said. "But it was fun for them. It was good to see them having fun."
Arguably the Eagles biggest moment came on the road at Moravian on February 8. Sitting at 2-7 in conference, Juniata needed to win in order to keep its playoff hopes alive and the task was not simple. Moravian had won 71-59 when the teams met in Huntingdon and this matchup was the Greyhounds' pink game, their biggest game day of the season. In front of over 1,000 people at Johnston Hall, the Eagles held on for the 56-53 win, their first win at Moravian in two years.
"Moravian without a doubt was one of the biggest," said Young-Uhrich. "You know you look back and talk about career wins. That was one of the coolest moments and the girls really deserved that moment. It was great to watch the girls persevere with the gym conditions and how hostile their fans were. In a lot of ways, it did seem like a down year when you look at records. It's typical athletic adversity. It doesn't reflect the amount of talent and what this team accomplished."
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