NEW YORK, N.Y.- The Juniata women's basketball team lost to Grove City, 75-45, in their final game of the New York City Shootout, Saturday afternoon at Arc Arena.
The Wolverines opened the scoring with a free throw, before Juniata countered with their first points via a Gracie Stauffer (Loysville, Pa. / West Perry) free throw. Grove City scored the following five points prior to a Larissa Leonard (Three Springs, Pa. / Southern Huntingdon) three off a pass from Stauffer which made it 6-5. The teams traded buckets over the next few minutes, with Stauffer and Averie Hess (Jersey Shore, Pa. / Jersey Shore) doing the scoring for the Eagles. With a minute and half to go Grace Long (Harrisburg, Pa. / Central Dauphin) canned a jumper off a Leonard assist to give JC their first lead at 13-11. The Wolverines closed the opening quarter on a 6-0 surge to take a 17-13 lead into the second quarter.
The Wolverines started the first seven minutes of the quarter 8-2 run as both teams struggled to find a rhythm on offense. Long had the lone bucket for JC on a putback before she found Cassie Mock (Martinsburg, Pa. / Central Martinsburg) for a jumper to make it 25-17.
Grove City led 32-21 at the break.
The teams went back and forth over the first five minutes of the third, with the Wolverines expanding their lead before four straight foul shots from Cassidy Arnold (York, Pa. / Eastern York HS) and Stauffer got the Eagles back within 11. With the score at 43-32, Grove City controlled the final few minutes with an 8-3 burst to make it 51-35.
The Wolverines exploded for a 24-10 scoring advantage in the final period to put the game completely out of reach.
Juniata is done for this decade and returns to action in the new year, January 2nd at Dickinson. The tipoff is at 7:00.
