Elizabethtown, Pa. - Juniata fell to the Blue Jays at Elizabethtown on Wednesday, Feb. 8, 78-54. Dani Atkinson and Katy Leamer led the Eagles' offense with double-digits, but it was not enough to overcome Elizabethtown's high-scoring starting five.
The Blue Jays went on an early 10-3 run in the contest, asserting their powerful offense over the Eagles. Bethany Spencer (York, Pa./York Suburban) accounted for the three points with a shot from behind the key. Haley Myers' (Huntingdon, Pa./Juniata Valley) layup cut the score to 10-5 with six minutes left in the first quarter. Despite layups from Katy Leamer (Altoona, Pa./Bellwood-Antis), Dani Atkinson (Lancaster, Pa./Lancaster Catholic) and a put-back from Rachael Anstine (York, Pa./Dallastown), Elizabethtown held a 13-point lead over Juniata at the end of the first.
Down 24-11, Kelly Leamer (Altoona, Pa./Bellwood) scored tallied up four points after an E-town layup to get within 11 points. However, the Eagles were not able to get any closer than 11 points throughout the second quarter, as the home team halted any potential runs. Katy Leamer led the scoring in the 20-18 quarter with five points in the last two JC possessions of the half. The senior's jumper made the score 44-29 heading into the second half.
Atkinson started the scoring for the Eagles with a jumper, but the Blue Jays tacked on eight more before JC was able to score again. Katy Leamer retaliated a put-back with a jumper on the Eagles' end. Besides an E-town layup, the offense was cold for the next two minutes.
A pair of free throws for the Blue Jays extended their lead to 55-33. Veronica Cosmopolis (Lima, Peru/Colegio Carmelitas) answered the shots with a layup. With a stop on the other end, in part to Morgan Instone's (Johnstown, Pa./Bishop McCort) block, Myers capitalized on the possession with a layup. After Sarah Sherman's (Lansdale, Pa./Methacton) defensive rebound, Kaeana Rebert (Hanover, Pa./South Western) hit a jump shot to make the score 56-39.
While E-town added up some more, Juniata was within 14 with 19 seconds left. A free throw and a layup off a steal put the Eagles down 17 at the end of the third quarter.
With two minutes left in the game, the Blue Jays held a 28-point lead. Atkinson and Cosmopolis each scored four more, while E-town added on four points. The buzzer sounded with E-town winning the game 78-54.
Now 1-10 in the conference, JC will play its final home game of the season on Saturday, Feb. 11 against Moravian at 2 p.m. The Eagles will honor their seniors, Katy Leamer, Sarah Sherman and Bailey Swogger, before the tip.