Juniata Women Set to Battle Piedmont in NCAA First Round

Crestview Hills, Ky.- The Juniata women's basketball team (22-5) is set to face Piedmont (23-5) in the first round of the NCAA tournament at Thomas More, Friday at 5:00 pm.

The Eagles enter the tournament after opening the year with the best start in program history as they went 14-0 to start. They defeated then #8 Scranton (which is the Royals only loss this year) as JC went on to clinch the two-seed in the Landmark. They defeated Elizabethtown at home to reach the conference championship and a showdown in Scranton. Dani Atkinson (Lancaster, Pa./Lancaster Catholic) banked in a three from way behind the three-point line to force overtime before JC eventually fell, 59-58.

Piedmont College enters the tournament at 23-5, at one point they won 10 straight games during the regular season. They are the USA South Champions after their victory over Berea College, 69-63. It was the Lions second straight conference championship.

Second-team west division selection Amari Price leads the Lions in the scoring at 11.6 points per game, assists at 97 and field goal percentage at 55.1%. Joining her on the all-conference team was backcourt mate Carlie Shields who is second in scoring at 11.3 points per game and assists at 74. She leads the team in minutes played at 30.3 per game. Bridgette Kelly leads the team in three point makes at 48 while Brittany Walker leads the team in blocks while coming off the bench with 47.

First team all-conference selection Atkinson leads the Eagles in scoring at 14.9 points per game, steals with 57, three point makes with 47 and assists with 56. Landmark Conference Defensive Player of the Year and second team all-conference selection Morgan Instone (Johnstown, Pa./Bishop McCourt) is second in scoring at 11.9 per game. She leads the team in field goal percentage at 51.4%, blocks at 64 and rebounds per game at 7.6. Gracie Stauffer (Loysville, Pa./West Perry) is third on the team in scoring at 7.6 points and second in blocks with 46. Rachael Anstine (York, Pa./Dallastown) is fourth in scoring at 7.5 and is third in blocks with 40. The Eagles rank sixth in the nation in total blocks. This will be the Eagles fourth appearance in the NCAA tournament.