(Posted March 6, 2010)

LATROBE, Pa. -- Juniata College forward Jen Hnatuck (Mechnicsburg, Pa./Trinity) scored 19 points and surpassed the 1,000 career points mark to lead the Eagles to a 80-74 win over Widener University, in Saturday night's second semifinal of ECAC Division III South Region Women's Basketball Tournament at Saint Vincent College's Carey Center.

The win sends eighth-seeded Juniata (17-11) into Sunday afternoon's ECAC South Region tourney championship game against the host squad from Saint Vincent College. Tip-off between Juniata and second seed Saint Vincent is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. The Eagles will be playing for their second consecutive ECAC South Region championship.

Hnatuck led five Eagles in double figures, with 5-of-13 shooting from the field and a 9-of-10 effort at the free-throw line. Her 19-point performance gives the junior 1,012 career points, making her the 11th Juniata women's basketball player to break the 1,000-point barrier.

Sophomore guard Ashton Bankos (York, Pa./York Catholic) added 16 points while dishing our four assists, and senior forward Kelly Rotan (Atco, N.J./Hammonton) logged her second double-double of the season with 14 points and 13 rebounds. She also handed out five assists, with three blocks and two steals.

Junior forward Erin McGinley (Ashland, Pa./Tri-Valley) and sophomore guard Meagan Raville (McSherrystown, Pa./Delone Catholic) added 12 and 10 points respectively.

Widener's Becky Tyler finished with a game-high 20 points, while Kate Dellinger and Alex Held posted 14 and 11 points each. Casey Pritz hauled down 12 boards, leading a Widener (16-12) squad that out-rebounded Juniata 47-37.

The Pride also took advantage of the Eagles' 18 turnovers, and had a 24-13 in points-off-turnovers for the game.

However Widener was unable to keep pace with an efficient Juniata offense that turned in one of its best performances of the season. The Eagles shot .483 (28-of-58) from the floor, its best shooting effort since shooting .536 against Manhattanville College in the championship game of this season's Juniata Holiday Invitational back on January 3.

Juniata also outworked Widener at the free-throw line, going 19-of-24 at the stripe to the Pride's 16-of-22 performance.

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