JUNIATA WOMEN’S HOOPS FALLS TO PITT-GREENSBURG

GREENSBURG, Pa. – A cold-shooting second-half effort by the Juniata College women's basketball squad allowed the University of Pittsburgh-Greensburg to squeak past the Eagles, 67-64, Saturday afternoon in Greensburg, Pa.

Juniata (3-1) shot just 31.4% (11-35) from the field in the second half, and had a 35.7% (25-70) clip for the entire game. Against the Eagles, Pitt-Greensburg connected on 43.6% (24-55) of its shots for the game, despite falling off to just 39.3% shooting (11-28) in the second half.

The Eagles had their opportunities in the see-saw contest, which had 13 lead changes and was tied on 10 occasions.

Juniata led 64-61 as late as the 1:55 mark of the second half, following a layup by Ali Meckey (Ebensburg, Pa./Bishop Carroll).

The Lady Bobcats cut the margin to two points with 1:39 remaining, when Kelsey Wilcox connected on the second of two free throws. Wilcox knotted the game at 64-64 just 25 seconds later with a layup, and Nicole Reiser gave Pitt-Greensburg the lead with 44 seconds remaining in regulation with a layup of her own.

Tiffany Menhorn made the first of two free throws with just 15 seconds left on the clock, padding the UPG lead.

Juniata was just 1-of-10 from the field over the final four-and-a-half minutes, frustrating the Eagle comeback effort. The Eagles were also called for 21 fouls, sending the Lady Bobcats to the line 30 times. Juniata, by comparison, had just 10 free throw attempts on 14 Pitt-Greensburg fouls.

Meckey led the Eagles with 15 points, largely behind a 4-of-11 shooting effort from three-point range. Kelly Ashcraft (Bellefonte, Pa./State College) recorded her second double-double of the season with 10 points and a team-high 10 rebounds. Claudia McDowell (Alexandria, Pa./Juniata Valley) dished out four of Juniata's 14 assists.

UPG had four scorers in double-figures, led by Amanda Sheaffer with 17 points on 8-of-13 shooting from the field. Wilcox finished with 16 points to go with her 12 rebounds.

Juniata has a week off until it returns to action, when it opens Landmark Conference play on Saturday, Dec. 1, by hosting Susquehanna University.

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