HUNTINGDON, Pa. – Heading deeper into Landmark Conference play, the Juniata women's basketball team has already cemented itself among the statistical leaders in the country. The Eagles are one of the top 100 programs in nine major categories including being ranked No. 2 in free throw percentage.
"I don't really pay attention to the national ranking stuff," said Head Coach Danny Young-Uhrich. "It's just getting through each game. But to be ranked No. 2 in anything is pretty cool."
As a team, Juniata also ranks top 25 in three-point field goals per game (19), assist-to-turnover ratio (23) and assists per game (25). Out of 450 programs ranked, the Eagles are 38th in scoring offense, 52nd in three-point field goal percentage, 54th in turnover margin, 72nd in turnovers per game and 75th in scoring margin. They are in the top 16th percentile of the categories they appear.
Individual Eagles are also present in the rankings. Junior Kate McDonald (Pennsylvania Furnace, Pa./State College Area) appears in every individual category except three.
"With her athleticism and what she does on the floor, I'm not surprised," Young-Uhrich said. "She is an all-around player. She can score, she can rebound, she's athletic to block shots and just because she is the player that she is, everyone is collapsing on her so her assists have gone up. She's active. That's what happens when you are committed to being active. She's definitely not one-dimensional."
McDonald is ranked nationally for points, rebounds, assists, blocked shots and steals per game; field-goal and free-throw percentage; assist-to-turnover ratio; and double-doubles. She leads the team in most of the major categories and is also among the conference leaders.
The only Eagle to break into the top 10 nationally was senior Jordan Speck (Huntingdon, Pa./Southern Huntingdon). The 5-11 guard is ranked seventh in three-point field goals per game. She is also ranked 17th in three-point field-goal percentage.
"Her three's are really something she takes pride in," said Young-Uhrich of Speck. "It did take me a while to embrace the three until Ali Meckey came along. She was the only player I ever had that statistically led the NCAA in Division III in any category. With her being part of my teams, I realized the importance of the shot, because it does open up the inside game. It's a game changer. And that's what Speck does. But being 17th in percentage is probably the biggest thing for me."
Speck broke into the Juniata record books during the Eagle's battle against No. 13 Catholic back on Jan. 9. She surpassed Ali Meckey ('08) as the all-time leading three-point shooter in program history. To-date, Speck has made 161 three's in her career. Her 47 made this year put her fifth on the all-time season leaderboard.
Other Eagles ranked individually are junior Jordan Hileman (Williamsburg, Pa./Williamsburg) and sophomore Kelsey Livoti (Altoona, Pa./Bishop Guilfoyle). Hileman is ranked for her assists and steals per game along with assist-to-turnover ratio. Livoti is ranked under blocked shots, respectively.
"It's not really our style to look at things individually," stated Young-Uhrich. "But when not a lot of kids get even considered for these, to have four kids, it's an honor for them."
Juniata returns home this Wednesday, Jan. 16 to face Landmark rival Goucher College at 7 p.m. in Memorial Gymnasium. The Eagles are undefeated against Goucher all-time to lead the series 10-0. Juniata has averaged a 16-point win margin at home in the series over the Gophers.
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