HUNTINGDON, Pa. – The Juniata women's basketball team was picked fifth in the 2017-18 Landmark Conference preseason poll after finishing with an overall record of 10-15 in the 2016-17 season.

Juniata received 22 points in the poll, placing them behind Moravian (58), Scranton (56), and Elizabethtown (32). The Eagles sit ahead of Drew, Susquehanna, and Goucher. In the 2016-17 season, the team went 2-12 in conference play, defeating Goucher twice.

Senior guard Dani Atkinson (Lancaster, Pa./Lancaster Catholic) returns after being named to the all-conference last year for Juniata. Also returning are fellow seniors Bethany Spencer (York, Pa./York Suburban) and Rachael Anstine (York, Pa./Dallastown). 

Atkinson led the team in points per game (14.16) last season and in minutes played. She tallied a season-high 24 points against St. Vincent (Dec. 7) and a season high of 10 rebounds against Delaware Valley (Nov. 22). 

Spencer started in all 25 games for the Eagles at guard, averaging 23.4 minutes a game. She had a season-high eight assists in the team's win over Frostburg State (Nov. 28) and had a season-high eight points against both St. Vincent (Dec. 7) and Moravian (Feb. 11).

Anstine saw the court in 23 games, averaging eight points per game. She scored a season-high 17 points against Frostburg State (Nov. 28) and grabbed a season-high 11 rebounds against Dickinson (Nov. 15).

Juniata's women's basketball team tips off the 2017-18 season at Dickinson on Wednesday, Nov. 15 at 7 pm.