(Posted February 2, 2005)

Messiah 71, Juniata 44

Grantham, PA. ? Coming off an emotional contest this past weekend, the Juniata College women?s basketball team needed to avoid having the Falcons jump out to a big early lead. But that?s precisely what happened as cold Juniata shooting got the Eagles out of the gate slowly and was too much to overcome as Juniata fell by a 71-44 score Wednesday evening. Juniata is now 5-14 overall and 1-8 in the Commonwealth Conference while Messiah upped its record to 17-2 on the season and 7-1 in conference action.

The Eagles put themselves in an early hole in the first half and could not come all the way back in the second frame. Juniata was held to just 15-percent shooting in the first half as the converted five baskets and a pair of free throws for 13 first-half points. Juniata?s defense kept the Eagles in the game as Messiah finished just 8-of-23 from the field in the half. The difference came at the foul line as Messiah shot 13-of-15 from the free throw line to take a 29-13 advantage into the locker room.

Juniata found its offense in the second half, putting 31 points on the board to cut into the Messiah lead. Lesley Snoby (Johnstown/Johnstown) scored all 11 of her points in the second half to spur the Eagles as the visitors shot an improved 33-percent as a team in the final 20 minutes.

But the Falcons also began to hit from the field as they poured in 42 points to hold Juniata at bay. Along with 14-of-32 shooting from the field, Messiah was 5-of-8 from three-point land and 9-10 from the foul line in the second half.

Jess Winemiller (Dallastown/York) scored a team-high 12 points for the Eagles, the 11th time this season that the Eagle freshman has been the team?s top scorer. Along with her 11 points, Snoby grabbed a team-high eight rebounds. Winemiller, Katie Rhoads (Hempfield/Columbia) and Mindy Werner (West York/York) all finished with two assists.

Messiah?s Sarah Ringer led all players with 17 points for the game. Kristin Sassaman finished with 15 points and a game-high six assists, while Eli Cook added 14 points and a game-best nine rebounds.

Juniata will be back in action on Saturday as the Eagles travel to play at conference foe Moravian.

JUNIATA (44): Callas 0 4-4 4, Meckey 3 0-0 8, Walsh 2 0-0 5, Winemiller 5 2-3 12, O?Brien 1 0-0 2, Rhoads 0 0-0 0, Werner 1 0-0 2, Snoby 5 1-1 11. Totals ? 17 7-8 44

MESSIAH (71): Sassaman 5 2-2 15, Cook 5 4-4 14, Rydell 2 4-4 9, Kieffer 1 1-1 3, Ringer 5 7-8 17, Reed 2 4-4 8, Avery 1 0-2 2, Schurr 10-0 3, Groves 0 0-0 0, Remmel 0 0-0 0. Totals ? 22 22-25 71

Halftime: Messiah 29-13. 3-point goals: Juniata 3 (Meckey 2, Walsh); Messiah 5 (Sassaman 3, Rydell, Schurr). Assists: Juniata 8 (Winemiller, Rhoads, Werner 2); Messiah 8 (Sassaman 6). Rebounds: Juniata 45 (Snoby 8); Messiah 43 (Cook 9).


Records: Juniata (5-14); Messiah (17-2).

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Contact April Feagley at feaglea@juniata.edu or (814) 641-3131 for more information.