HUNTINGDON, Pa. (January 22, 2011) - Juniata (12-6, 5-2 Landmark) scored the game's final six points and defeated the Rangers 66-59 this afternoon. Junior Danielle Barber (Cape May Court House, N.J./Middle Twp.) netted 19 points to go along with six assists and four rebounds.
After squandering a six-point lead early in the first half then coming all the way back from an eight-point deficit at the 6:39 mark, the Rangers could not get past the evenly paced Eagles who picked up their fifth conference win of the year.
Drew (8-9, 1-6 Landmark) held a two-point advantage going into the half and sustained a lead until the 10:48 mark of the second frame when jumper by Jordan Speck put the Eagles in front for the first time since the first half. The two teams would exchange baskets before Speck sunk a pair of three pointers and Erin McGinley hit a layup and a pair of free throws to open an eight-point Eagle lead.
The Rangers would chip away at the lead with a 9-2 run of their own which was capped by a Barber deep ball with 4:24 left on the clock. With momentum shifting toward the visiting Rangers, Juniata would get the fifth three-ball of the day from Speck to go up four with 3:27 remaining. Speck would match Barber with a game-high 19 points off the bench for the Eagles.
The Rangers would cut the lead to one making the score 60-59 courtesy of a layup by Victoria Ault (Middletown, N.J./Mater Dei) and a pair of free throws by Jen Mateo (Union City, N.J./Union City) with 1:41 left on the clock. Drew would not score another point as the Eagles registered a layup and four free throws down the stretch to close out the Rangers.
Jess Reid (Nazareth, Pa./Nazareth Area) was the other Ranger in double figures, adding 11 points and seven rebounds. Juniata got 40 of their 66 points off the bench and moved into sole possession of third place in the Landmark.
Drew will travel will turnaround and travel to nearby William Paterson on Monday for a non-conference tilt with the Pioneers at 7:00 PM in Wayne, N.J.