SCRANTON, Pa.- The Juniata women's basketball team dropped a 66-55 decision on the road at Scranton, Friday evening inside the John Long Center. 

Scranton went up 7-0 in the first two minutes before Madison Colyer (Newville, Pa. / Big Spring) made a three off a pass from Averie Hess (Jersey Shore, Pa. / Jersey Shore). A pair of Cassie Mock (Martinsburg, Pa. / Central Martinsburg) free throws and a Hess layup helped the Eagles get within four at 11-7. The hosts tallied the next four points before Gracie Stauffer (Loysville, Pa. / West Perry) scored inside. Mock found Taylor Vrabel (Chambersburg, Pa. / Chambersburg) for a jumper to bring the Eagles back within four, 15-11. The Royals made a three before Grace Long (Harrisburg, Pa. / Central Dauphin) was fouled on a putback, and she added the free throw. Scranton made a layup, Hess made a three off a pass from Kynnedy Miller (Huntingdon, Pa. / Huntingdon Area HS) for the final JC bucket of the first, but the Royals led by six after one, 23-17 as they converted a triple at the buzzer. 

Juniata hung with the Royals in the early part of the second, with two buckets from Long and Jamie Mahigel (Lewistown, Pa. / Mifflin County) layup after an offensive rebound providing the offense. Scranton managed to push their lead to double digits in the final minute of the half, but Vrabel assisted a Hess jumper for the final bucket of the half as Juniata trailed, 38-29 at the half. 

Scranton opened the third with a three, Stauffer scored inside while being fouled, made the free throw and Long made a jumper to bring JC within seven in the first two minutes. 

Scranton tried to pull away the rest of the quarter, leading by as many as 13. Vrabel drilled a three from near the top of the key inside the final seconds to get Juniata back within eight heading into the fourth. 

Stauffer scored inside in the first 49 seconds off the fourth to bring Juniata within six, but the Eagles got no closer the rest of the way as Scranton held JC off to get the win.  

Juniata narrowly won the battle on the boards, 41-37, and scored more points inside, 28-20. 

The Eagles will host Scranton in their final game of the season tomorrow at 4:00