Juniata Prevails in Battle of the Eagles vs. Bridgewater

ASHLAND, Va.- The Juniata women's basketball team defeated Bridgewater, 67-55, in the second day of the R-MC Tip-Off Classic at Randolph Macon Saturday afternoon. 

Dani Atkinson (Lancaster, Pa./Lancaster Catholic) and Morgan Instone (Johnstown, Pa./Bishop McCort) were both named to the R-MC All-Classic Team. Atkinson had 19 points, six rebounds and five assists, while Instone had 10 points and 12 rebounds. Haley Myers(Huntingdon, Pa./Juniata Valley) and Veronica Cosmopolis (Lima, Peru/Colegio Carmelitas) had nine points and 12 points off the bench, respectively.

Kaeana Rebert (Hanover, Pa./South Western) scored the first three points of the game off an Atkinson pass to get things started for Juniata. The teams traded baskets early, and midway through the opening period, Bridgewater led 12-11. Atkinson poured in the next nine points for JC as Juniata took a 20-16 lead into the second. 

Rachael Anstine (York, Pa./Dallastown) scored inside on lay-up to open the second. A few possessions later, Atkinson drove from the right wing, drew two defenders and kicked it to Anstine who was all alone at three-point line. She drilled it as Juniata went up 25-16. Two free throws from Myers made it 27-16. The lead stayed between 7-11 the rest of the quarter as Juniata went into the half ahead, 35-26.

Bridgewater opened the third on an 11-5 run as they narrowed the deficit to three at 40-37. Cosmopolis scored six of the next seven Juniata points as she helped pushed the lead back up to nine at 47-38. Overall, JC closed the quarter on a 13-3 run as they led 53-40 after three. Bridgewater never got closer than eight in the fourth.

Juniata outrebounded Bridgewater 48-38, scored 27 points off Bridgewater turnovers and held a 17-5 edge in second chance points.

JC will next play at St. Vincent, Saturday at 2:00.