Juniata women’s hoops falls to Gwynedd-Mercy, 70-64

GWYNEDD VALLEY, Pa. – The Juniata College women's basketball team shot just 22.9% from the field in the second half as Gwynedd-Mercy College posted a 70-64 win over the Eagles, Saturday afternoon at the Griffin Complex in Gwynedd Valley, Pa.

Juniata (4-3, 0-1 Landmark) held a six-point lead, 45-39, at the 15:35 mark of the second half, following a jumper by Court Callas (Sarver, Pa./Freeport). The Griffins (6-2) responded with a three-pointer by Kate Wisniewski, and a pair of two-point baskets by Kate McGinn, to eventually take a 46-45 lead with 12:13 to play.

The Eagles promptly regained the lead on Mindy Werner's (York, Pa./West York) jumper, and held a one-possession lead until a Wisniewski jumper put Gwynedd-Mercy back in front 54-53 at the 6:04 mark. After a Kelly Ashcraft (Bellefonte, Pa./State College) foul shot, Wisniewski converted another three-pointer and a layup to widen the Griffin lead to five points.

Juniata briefly cut the deficit to two points, 59-57, on Ali Meckey's (Ebensburg, Pa./Bishop Carroll) trey at the 3:08 mark, but four-straight successful foul shots by Gwynedd-Mercy stretched the Griffin lead back to six points.

Juniata got as close as five points on several occasions over the final three minutes, but could get no closer. The Eagles could not capitalize on Gwynedd-Mercy's 5-of-12 effort at the free-throw line over the final two minutes, shooting just 1-of-6 from the field over that same stretch of time.

In the first half, Juniata lit up the Griffins with 60.0% (18-30) shooting from the field, including a 5-of-5 effort by Ashcraft and 3-of-3 shooting by Kelly Rotan (Atco, N.J./Hammonton).

Ashcraft finished the game 8-of-13 from the floor with a game-high 18 points. Claudia McDowell (Alexandria, Pa./Juniata Valley) was the only other Eagle to score in double-figures with 11 points, while dishing out a season-high seven assists. Meckey and Jen Hnatuck (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Trinity) each grabbed eight rebounds.

The Eagles now have 21 days off for exams and the holidays, before returning to action on Saturday, Dec. 29, when they host Thiel College at the Kennedy Sports + Recreation Center.

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