FROSTBURG, Md.-The Juniata women's basketball team had their rousing comeback fall just short as they lost at Frostburg, 56-52, Wednesday evening.
It was a first quarter the Eagles won't want to remember as they couldn't find the bottom of the net after the first quarter. The Bobcats led 10-0 after the first period.
Two Cassie Mock (Martinsburg, Pa. / Central Martinsburg) free throws broke the seal on the hoop 40 seconds into the second quarter. A Kaeana Rebert (Hanover, Pa. / South Western) triple off a pass from Grace Long (Harrisburg, Pa. / Central Dauphin) was the first bucket in open play for JC as Juniata trailed, 13-5.
The Bobcats surged ahead 28-9 in the final minute of the second quarter. A layup by Rebert and later an offensive rebound and layup by Gracie Stauffer (Loysville, Pa. / West Perry)made it 28-13 as the teams headed into halftime.
Frostburg scored the first basket of the second half which made it 30-13. Long drained a three, Mock nailed a jumper off a pass from Madison Colyer (Newville, Pa. / Big Spring) and Colyer found Mock again this time for a three to pull Juniata within nine, 30-21. The teams traded buckets the rest of the way, with the Bobcats leading 42-30 after three.
The teams traded points early with Stauffer opening the final stanza with a layup off a feed from Mock. With the score at 44-32, Mock converted back to back threes to pull the Eagles within eight at 46-38. A few possessions later, Stauffer found Long on the opposite for another three to make it 46-41. The Bobcats pushed their lead back to eight, 51-43, with three and half minutes to go.
Rebert found Long for another three and Stauffer scored inside to make it 51-48. The Bobcats scored on a floater and Colyer split a pair of foul shots which made it 53-49 with a minute and half remaining. Neither team scored over the next minute, and the Bobcats had the ball with 35 seconds to go. Long poked the ball loose and dove on the ground to snag it. She flipped it to Rebert who tossed it ahead to Colyer who laid it in while being fouled. She made the proceeding free throw to pull the Eagles within one. Juniata fouled and Frostburg made both foul shots. After calling timeout, Juniata couldn't get off a final shot as the Bobcats stole the ball and hung on to win, 56-52.
Frostburg held an edge on the glass, 40-32, while Juniata had a 24-18 advantage in points off turnovers.
Juniata opens conference play at Susquehanna this Saturday. Tipoff is at 2:00.