HUNTINGDON, Pa.—For the second straight year, The University of Scranton came up short in the Landmark Conference championship game.
Only this time, it may have ended the Lady Royals' season without a trip to the NCAA tournament, something that hasn't happened since 2001.
Scranton fell apart in the second half after trailing by seven at intermission and suffered a 67-49 defeat to Juniata College at the Kennedy Sports and Recreation Center.
The Eagles, who swept the Lady Royals in the regular season, including an impressive 81-68 victory at the Long Center on January 14, won their first-ever Landmark title and will receive an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III championships, whose 64-team field will be announced Monday. The win was also the 11th straight for Juniata, now 21-6 overall and ranked second in the latest NCAA Mid-Atlantic poll.
Sophomore guard Paige Robertson (Altoona, Pa./Altoona Area) came off the bench to lead the Eagles with 19 points on 7 of 8 shooting from the field, senior forward Jen Hnatuck (Mechnicsburg, Pa./Trinity) finished with 12 points and 12 rebounds, and sophomore guard Natalie Glinsky (Indiana, Pa./Indiana Area) had 12 points.
In what may turn out to be the final game of her sensational career, senior guard Megan Kopecki (Millington, N.J./Watchung Hills Regional) led the Lady Royals, now 19-7, with 15 points on 7 of 11 shooting from the field. Scranton, which shot just 34 percent for the game, including a 2-for-18 effort (11.1) from beyond the 3-point arc, also received seven points from sophomore guard Katherine Torto (Binghamton, N.Y./Seton Catholic Central).
The Lady Royals were still within striking distance with 12 minutes remaining in the second half, 43-35, before the Eagles went on a 19-11 run to take a 62-46 lead with 3:58 left. Juniata's lead eventually ballooned to 20 points in the final minute of play.
For the game, Scranton committed 20 turnovers, including 12 in the second half.
If the Lady Royals do not receive an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament Monday, today's loss snaps a 19-year run in which Scranton has won at least 20 games in a season.
Newspaper Box Score
JUNIATA 67, THE UNIVERSITY OF SCRANTON 49
THE UNIVERSITY OF SCRANTON (19-7)
Megan Kopecki 7-11 1-2 15; Katherine Torto 3-3 1-1 7; Tayler Pallotta 2-7 1-2 6; Katie Cunningham 3-6 0-0 6; Alison Sweeney 1-4 2-2 5; Sarah Gage 1-3 2-2 4; Jennifer King 0-10 2-2 2; Colleen McLane 1-6 0-0 2; Sidney Jaques 0-0 1-2 1; Shernai Bentley 0-2 1-2 1; Courtney Roselle 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 18-53 11-15 49.
JUNIATA (21-6)
Paige Robertson 7-8 3-3 19; Natalie Glinsky 4-12 2-2 12; Jen Hnatuck 2-7 8-9 12; Jordan Speck 2-7 0-0 6; Jordan Hileman 2-4 0-0 5; Erin McGinley 2-2 1-1 5; Ashton Bankos 1-6 2-6 4; Alyssia Gordon 1-6 0-1 2; Meagan Raville 1-2 0-0 2; Kate McDonald 0-4 0-0 0. Totals 22-58 16-22 67.
The University of Scranton.... 22 27 - 49
Juniata....................... 29 38 - 67
3-point goals--The University of Scranton 2-18 (Tayler Pallotta 1-3; Alison Sweeney 1-3; Katie Cunningham 0-2; Jennifer King 0-7; Colleen McLane 0-3), Juniata 7-20 (Natalie Glinsky 2-6; Jordan Speck 2-6; Paige Robertson 2-2; Jordan Hileman 1-2; Alyssia Gordon 0-1; Ashton Bankos 0-3). Fouled out—The University of Scranton-None, Juniata-None. Rebounds--The University of Scranton 35 (Megan Kopecki 8), Juniata 41 (Jen Hnatuck 12). Assists—The University of Scranton 6 (Katie Cunningham 3), Juniata 17 (Jordan Hileman 5). Total fouls--The University of Scranton 20, Juniata 14. Technical fouls--The University of Scranton-None, Juniata-None. A-750