Women's Basketball Declaws Bobcats in Fantastic Fourth Quarter

HUNTINGDON, Pa.- The Juniata College women's basketball team won a physical, whistle-laden game against Frostburg, 86-67, Monday evening at Memorial Gymnasium. 

Morgan Instone (Johnstown, Pa./Bishop McCort) surpassed her career-high from the last game with 24 points, 14 rebounds and three blocks. Dani Atkinson (Lancaster, Pa./Lancaster Catholic) had 22 points and three assists. Veronica Cosmopolis (Lima, Peru/Colegio Carmelitas) had 14 points and six rebounds. Rachael Anstine (York, Pa./Dallastown) had nine points and five rebounds. Gracie Stauffer (Loysville, Pa./West Perry) had six points and five rebounds while Carmella Bickel (Elysburg, Pa./Lourdes Regional) added six points.

Juniata scored seven of their 15 points from the foul line as they held a narrow 15-14 lead after the first quarter. Both teams shot below 40% from the floor as the teams struggled to find a rhythm offensively.

The second quarter saw the teams begin to find their way offensively as they both raised their field goal percentages. The teams combined for 22 trips to the foul line, and JC dominated the glass in the period with a 15-5 edge. The Eagles went into the half down one, 37-36.

The third period saw Juniata's offense really start to get going, as they shot over 60% for the period, led by Instone's 10 points on 5-5 shooting. The Bobcats hung around by getting to the line, as they went 11 times in the quarter to the Eagles one trip to the line. Juniata led 60-58 heading into the final frame. 

Juniata went on a 14-4 run in the opening six minutes of the quarter to give themselves some breathing room. Atkinson scored inside off a nice pass from Bethany Spencer (York, Pa./York Suburban), and Makayla Carles (Tyrone, Pa./Bellwood-Antis) found Stauffer inside for two. Frostburg made two foul shots two get back within four. Cosmopolis split a pair of foul shots, Atkinson made two and then drilled a three off a pass from Instone to make it 70-62. Atkinson hit a runner from the right wing, and Bickel dished it to Stauffer to cap the run at 74-62. 

Juniata outscored the Bobcats 26-9 overall in the fourth to earn the 86-67 victory and remain unbeaten.

JC shot 27-57 (47.4%) from the field to Frostburg's 22-62 (35.5%), held a 52-32 edge in rebounds and made 43 trips to the foul line to the Bobcat's 27.

Juniata's 43 free throw attempts are the most in a single game in program history. The previous record was achieved against Frostburg back in 1979, when they took 42. 

The Eagles travel to Misericordia on Wednesday. Tipoff is 5:30.