YORK, Pa.-The Juniata women's basketball team suffered a 75-58 defeat at York Wednesday evening at Charles Wolf Gymnasium.
Grace Long (Harrisburg, Pa. / Central Dauphin) sunk a three off a pass from Kaeana Rebert (Hanover, Pa. / South Western) before Rebert drilled a three off a pass from Madison Colyer (Newville, Pa. / Big Spring) as Juniata went up 6-0. York rattled off 12 straight points over the next four minutes before Rebert found Larissa Leonard (Three Springs, Pa. / Southern Huntingdon) for the third Eagle three. Cassie Mock (Martinsburg, Pa. / Central Martinsburg) dished it to Leonard who made the fourth three to make it 14-12. A layup and two foul shots by the Spartans pushed York ahead by six before Stauffer converted an and-one to make it 18-15. The Spartans split a pair of free throws as Juniata trailed 19-15 after one.
York went on a 12-2 run over the first six and half minutes of the second quarter to go up 34-17. Leonard tossed it to Stauffer for a layup and Colyer swung it to Long for three to pull JC back within twelve, 34-22.
Two Averie Hess (Jersey Shore, Pa. / Jersey Shore) foul shots with a minute and half to go in the first half chopped the deficit to 11, 37-26. The Spartans responded with two more free throws of their own were the final points of the half as Juniata headed to the locker room down 13.
The Spartan defense was caused the Eagles major issues in the first half as JC turned the ball over 18 times and York tallied 11 steals.
York controlled most of the third quarter as they pushed their lead to 18 before Rebert drilled a three, Stauffer scored in a sea of white Spartan jerseys and Haines splashed a three to pull JC within 54-44. York came down in the final seconds and answered with a triple of their own at the buzzer.
A Stauffer foul shot at the beginning of the final quarter made it 57-45, but the Eagles got no closer the rest of the way.
Juniata dominated the glass, 51-31, but the Spartans 23 steals led to 29 points off turnovers.
The Eagles return to action at home, Tuesday the 18thagainst Saint Vincent. Tipoff is at 6:00.