By: Jennifer Jones
Director of Sports Information
jonesj@juniata.edu • juniatasports.net
Photo: Christopher Shannon
HUNTINGDON, Pa. – The Juniata College women's basketball team opens its Landmark Conference season on Saturday, Dec. 7 against Moravian College. Tipoff is set for 4 p.m. and will follow the men's game against the Greyhounds that starts at 2 p.m.
"It is tough that we are starting off with Moravian, but I'm glad to get a tough opponent out of the way," said head coach Danny Young-Uhrich. "It's good that we're home, but it's going to be a tough matchup."
This is the 45th meeting between the two program's in a series that dates back to the 1985-86 season. Moravian holds the all-time series lead at 16-28, but the Eagles have competed tough in recent history. The programs have gone 4-4 in the past three seasons, meeting twice in postseason play.
The Eagles are 5-1 after dropping their first game of the season off a late shot in overtime against St. Vincent College. They come into the matchup averaging over 87 points per game shooting 51 percent from the floor. Freshman Olivia Halfpenny (McVeytown, Pa./Mifflin County) had a breakout game against the Bearcats. She scored a game and career-high 21 points missing just one field goal.
Young-Uhrich believes communication on defense will be key for the Eagles in the matchup.
"They're going to come at us defensively as well," she added. "So we're not going to get shots up as easily as we have in the past. We need to make sure that we're stepping into our passes and attacking them the way they are attacking us."
Moravian (5-1) has now won five straight after losing their first contest of the year. They are led by junior Alexis Wright. She has a team-high 102 points, 64 rebounds, 23 blocks and 10 steals. The forward is averaging a double-double and has a team high 181 minutes under her belt.
"Wright's going to be really big, she's always consistent," Young-Uhrich added. "Their guards penetrate well, so we need to be ready to move with them and avoid fouling."
The Greyhounds have averaged just over 72 points per game this season, shooting 41 percent from the floor.
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