HUNTINGDON, Pa.- The Juniata women's basketball team couldn't keep up with visiting Moravian as they lost, 63-41, Saturday afternoon inside Memorial Gymnasium in their first conference game of the year. 

Averie Hess (Jersey Shore, Pa. / Jersey Shore) scored the game's opening bucket on a strong drive from the left-wing, where she maneuvered past a defender in the paint before laying the ball in high off the glass.  

A Cassie Mock (Martinsburg, Pa. / Central Martinsburg) jumper from the left elbow made it 4-4, but the Greyhounds tallied the next two buckets over the proceeding few minutes. Dani Scipioni (Altoona, Pa. / Bishop Guilfoyle) drove left off a pick at the top of the key, and a nifty right-hand layup from the right made it 8-6. 

A Mock three off a Grace Long (Harrisburg, Pa. / Central Dauphin) assist tied things at 11-11, and Moravian scored in the final 30 seconds as Juniata trailed 13-11 after one. 

A layup from Hailey Sherman (Marysville, Pa. / Susquenita High School) off a pass from Mock knotted the score at 13-13. Two minutes later, Steph Emert (Hoovesville, Pa. / North Star High School) tossed it to Sherman, who splashed a jumper to give JC a small lead. Moravian tied it on a jumper and moved ahead on a free throw before a Sherman layup off a pass from Kynnedy Miller (Huntingdon, Pa. / Huntingdon Area HS) gave Juniata their final lead of the game. 

Emelie Nonemaker with the lay-up in the second quarter #WingsUp #TakingFlight pic.twitter.com/dliozcL5LD

— Juniata Athletics (@JuniataEagles) December 4, 2021

The Greyhounds closed the half on a 9-2 run as Juniata trailed 25-19 at the half.  

Moravian pushed the lead to double digits in the first two minutes of the third and never looked back as they outscored the Eagles 38-22 in the second half. 

Grace Long with a 2 in the third quarter #WingsUp #TakingFlight pic.twitter.com/hI7vCfijcd

— Juniata Athletics (@JuniataEagles) December 4, 2021

Sarah Betts with a 3 pointer at the top of the key #WingsUp #TakingFlight pic.twitter.com/zj5kZ2s1Ub

— Juniata Athletics (@JuniataEagles) December 4, 2021

Moravian scored 21 points off 24 Juniata turnovers, while both teams struggled from the three-point line. Moravian was 3-14 while Juniata was 2-17.

Juniata returns to action Tuesday on the road at Bethany (W.V.). The tipoff is at 6:00.