Big Second Quarter Helps Eagles Cruise Past Red Devils

CARLISLE, Pa.- The Juniata women's basketball team used a decisive 21-9 second quarter to blow the game open on their way to a 58-42 win over Dickinson, Wednesday evening. 

Dani Atkinson (Lancaster, Pa./Lancaster Catholic) scored 19 points and added three steals, Rachael Anstine (York, Pa./Dallastown) tallied 10 points while Gracie Stauffer (Loysville, Pa./West Perry) snagged nine rebounds and scored four points off the bench.

Atkinson stole the ball, raced down the other end and laid the ball in to score the first two points of the season for Juniata. A tightly contested first quarter in which both teams looked to get comfortable ended with the Eagles up five, 14-9.

The Red Devils scored the opening points of the second quarter to narrow the gap to two at 14-12, but the Eagles offense responded with a 9-0 run. Morgan Instone (Johnstown, Pa./Bishop McCort) scored on a lay-up, Veronica Cosmopolis (Lima, Peru/Colegio, Carmelitas) followed with a lay-up of her own and then sank two free throws. Atkinson drilled a three to cap the run.

Dickinson scored inside and on a midrange jumper to make it 25-16. Bethany Spencer (York, Pa./York Suburban) drilled a three, Kaitlyn Young (Mount Ephraim, N.J./Audubon) found Atkinson for three before Madison Colyer (Newille, Pa./Big Spring) set up Young for a jumper to make it 33-16. Haley Myers (Huntingdon, Pa./Juniata Valley) made both her foul shots to send Juniata into the half with a 35-18 lead.

The second half saw Dickinson narrowly outscore Juniata 24-23, but the big second quarter meant he Eagles cruised to 68-52 victory. 

Juniata shot 35.9% from the field, scored 13 points off turnovers and held a 14-6 edge in bench points. The Eagles will return to action at Randolph-Macon, Friday at 6:00 P.M.