Women's Second Quarter Run Not Enough to Defeat Drew

THE HEADLINE: Juniata's women suffered a 66-51 loss against Drew University on Saturday, Jan. 14, falling to 1-3 in the Landmark Conference. 

THE STARTERS:

5 Bethany Spencer (York, Pa./York Suburban)

21 Katy Leamer (Altoona, Pa./Bellwood-Antis)

22 Bailey Swogger (Tyrone, Pa./Bellwood-Antis)

30 Dani Atkinson (Lancaster, Pa./Lancaster Catholic)

42 Kelly Leamer (Altoona, Pa./Bellwood)

FIRST HALF: The Eagles took an early lead with a three-pointer from Atkinson and a jumper from Katy Leamer. JC held the Rangers scoreless for the first three minutes of play. Drew eventually tacked on four points halfway through the first quarter, but Katy Leamer answered Drew's layup with a jumper to make the game 7-4.

With Drew's three-point play, the Rangers tied the game 7-7. Swogger went to the line for Juniata and missed both free throws. As the ball rolled out on the second shot, Drew pulled down the rebound and drove to the basket to get ahead of the Eagles 9-7.

Despite Haley Myers' (Huntingdon, Pa./Juniata Valley) two three-pointers, Drew went on a 13-6 run to end the quarter with a 22-13 lead over Juniata.

Kelly Leamer was the only Eagle to score in the first four minutes of the second quarter while Drew added up five points. About halfway through the quarter, Swogger ended Juniata's drought with a jumper, putting the Eagles within ten points. With a pair of free throws from Swogger, the score was 27-19.

Drew sunk a long jump shot, but Kelly Leamer one-upped the Rangers with a long three.

On a second-chance play, Kelly Leamer once against added two points for Juniata, igniting an 8-2 run. After the Rangers earned two, Kelly Leamer pulled down a defensive rebound on their following possession, took the ball down court to score two more. Swogger (2) and Rachael Anstine (York, Pa./Dallastown) added up three, making the score 31-29.

On the Rangers' last possession of the half, Myers stole the ball at half court and passed to Kelly Leamer. She was fouled on her successful layup, tying the game at 31. Her foul shot was good and Juniata held a 32-31 lead at the end of the first half.

SECOND HALF: The one-point lead switched back-and-forth through the first five minutes of the third quarter until Drew pulled ahead 39-34 with three layups and a pair of free throws. In Drew's 8-2 run, Juniata's two points came from Atkinson's drive down the court after a steal.

The Rangers continued to add on until gaining a 43-34 lead over Juniata. Despite Katy Leamer's shot from the top of the key and Morgan Instone's (Johnstown, Pa./Bishop McCort) free throw, the quarter ended with the Rangers' ahead 51-38.

After Leamer's three, Drew went on a 13-8 run, pulling 15 points ahead of the Eagles and winning the game 66-51. Atkinson (6) and Swogger (2) totaled those eight points for Juniata.

CAREER HIGH: Kelly Leamer's team-leading 17 points is a new career high for the sophomore. In her 31 minutes of play, she shot 7-for-13 from the field and 2-for-5 behind the three-point line. Her 15 points against Arcadia on Dec. 29 this season was her previous career high.

KEY PERFORMANCES: Following Kelly Leamer's 17 points was Atkinson with 11 points.

Katy Leamer led the defense under the basket with six defensive rebounds. Anstine tallied up five rebounds, two offensive and three defensive. 

UP NEXT: Juniata is travelling to Susquehanna on Wednesday, Jan. 18 to face the River Hawks at 7 p.m. After that, the women and the men will be playing in Moravian on Saturday, Jan. 21.