Colonels Curtail Eagle Comeback

WILKES-BARRE, PA- The Juniata women's basketball team lost at Wilkes University, 63-47, Saturday afternoon. 

Bri Bodtorf led the way with 13 points, nine rebounds, an assist, and three steals, while Laney Gerdich totaled eight points, nine rebounds, three assists, and three steals. Haily Sherman tallied seven points, seven rebounds, and a steal. 

Neither team scored in the first two minutes until the Colonels opened the scoring off a putback. Bodtorf answered a minute later, stealing the ball and scoring with a jumper on the other end.  

A Deja Gillo offensive rebound resulted in a Sherman layup, and Gillo splashed a triple to give JC a 7-6 momentarily. The Colonels closed the quarter on a 10-0 run, as Juniata found themselves down nine, 16-7, after one. 

A low-scoring second quarter saw the Eagles get the deficit back down to nine with a pair of Sarah Betts foul shots and a Bodtorf jumper after a Gillo steal made it 26-17 at the halftime break.

The Eagles had a solid third quarter, with Gerdich leading the way as she scored all eight of her points, while Bodtorf tacked on five as JC outscored the hosts 20-14. In the final seconds, Gerdich stole the ball and found Bodtorf for a layup at the buzzer to bring JC within three, 40-37.

A Bodtorf jumper and a Steph Emert three were the Eagle's only points in the first seven minutes of the fourth, while the Colonels rattled off 17 points. Bodtorf broke the cold spell with a jumper that made it 57-44 with under three to play, but JC ran out of time as they fell 63-47.  

Juniata dominated the glass 53-33 and got more significant contributions from their bench 24-15. 

The Eagles will return to action at Memorial Gymnasium this Saturday, taking on Elizabethtown at 2:00.