HEADLINE: The Juniata Eagles win their first game of the Juniata College Holiday Tournament 94-75 against Arcadia University. Dani Atkinson, Kelly Leamer, Katy Leamer and Rachael Anstine each put up double-digits in the 19-point victory.
THE STARTERS:
5 Bethany Spencer (York, Pa./York Suburban)
21 Katy Leamer (Altoona, Pa./Bellwood-Antis)
30 Dani Atkinson (Lancaster, Pa./Lancaster Catholic)
42 Kelly Leamer (Altoona, Pa./Bellwood-Antis)
44 Rachael Anstine (York, Pa./Dallastown)
FIRST HALF: With seven turnovers in the first four minutes of play, the Eagles quickly fell to a 13-4 deficit against the Knights. Down nine, Anstine was fouled on a successful layup and her three-point play was the beginning of a run for Juniata. Kelly Leamer kept the momentum going with back-to-back jumpers, putting the Eagles within two of the Knights.
Arcadia got two points back. However, Atkinson then went back-to-back and knotted the game at 15.
Atkinson pulled down a rebound on the other end and Bri Wasser (Ebensburg, Pa./Central Cambria) completed the possession with a jumper that put the Eagles ahead for the first time in the game. Haley Myers (Huntingdon, Pa./Juniata Valley) drained two three's in the last minute of the first quarter to complete Juniata's 19-7 run and end the quarter ahead 22-20.
The Knights tied the game at 24 less than a minute into the second quarter. Arcadia continued to add on, in part to three Juniata turnovers, and extended their lead to 32-24.
Suzy Badorf-England (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Mechanicsburg) retaliated an Arcadia layup with one of her own, sparking another run for the Eagles. Katy Leamer (8), Veronica Cosmopolis (3), Kelly Leamer (3), Kaeana Rebert (2) and Bailey Swogger (2) all contributed to the 18-9 run.
Juniata held a 44-41 advantage at the half.
SECOND HALF: With a three-point conversion and a layup, the Knights gained a two-point lead. Anstine, however, put their run to a halt with a layup and knotted the game at 46. Katy Leamer made a layup on the next possession, but the Knights retaliated on their end.
Tied at 48-48, the Eagles pulled ahead by two with Anstine's layup. Spencer secured a defensive rebound on the Knights' possession, took the ball down court and drained a three for her first bucket of the contest. Kelly Leamer and Cosmopolis knocked down three's as well, contributing to a 13-2 run in the third quarter.
Despite Arcadia's 9-2 run in the last three minutes of the third quarter, Juniata went into the fourth with a 63-59 lead.
Juniata outscored the Knights 31-16 behind Atkinson's 11 points and three steals in the fourth quarter to secure their victory.
KEY PERFORMANCES: Atkinson scored 19 points in the contest, 11 points in the fourth and three steals in two minutes. She went 9-16 in the field and 1-1 on the free throw line. She also pulled down five defensive rebounds.
Kelly Leamer (15), Katy Leamer (14) and Anstine (11) also recorded double-digits.
Katy Leamer completed a double-double with 10 rebounds, three offensive and seven defensive.
UP NEXT: The 11th Annual Juniata College Holiday Tournament continues on Friday, Dec. 30. Juniata will face DeSales University at 2 p.m., after Arcadia and TCNJ play at 12 p.m.