By: Jennifer Jones
Director of Sports Information
jonesj@juniata.edu • juniatasports.net
HUNTINGDON, Pa. – The Juniata College women's basketball team will welcome St. Vincent College, Muskingum University, and DeSales University to the Kennedy Sports+Recreation Center for the Eagles annual Comfort Inn Holiday Tournament this weekend. The tournament runs Sunday, Dec. 29 through Monday, Dec. 30. DeSales and St. Vincent tip off at 5:30 p.m. on Sunday with the Eagles following at 7:30 p.m. against Muskingum. The tournament schedule is available online.
Juniata (5-2, 0-1 Landmark) started the year 5-0 and has been ranked as high as No. 21 in the nation. They come into the tournament off a long break looking to bounce back on the right track after dropping two straight. The Eagles offense has been on fire, averaging over 83 points per game. They lead the league in seven categories and are ranked third nationally in field goal and three-point field goal percentages. Juniata is also ninth nationally in assists.
Three Eagles head into the tournament ranked individually. Senior Kate McDonald (Pennsylvania Furnace, Pa./State College Area) is ranked in seven different categories including 10th in double-doubles. Fellow senior Jordan Hileman (Williamsburg, Pa./Williamsburg) and junior Kelsey Livoti(Altoona, Pa./Bishop Guilfoyle) join McDonald on the assists-to-turnover ratio list. And sophomorePaige Dennison (East Berlin, Pa./Bermudian Springs) is ranked for assists per game along with Hileman and McDonald.
Juniata will face Muskingum in its first game since December 7 in the night cap of day one. They are 0-2 against the Fighting Muskies in a matchup that dates back to the 1984-85 season. This will be the first time the programs meet in Huntingdon all-time. Muskingum is 3-5 on the year and has won two of its last three games. They are averaging 67 points per game and are led by senior Tori Jarrett. The forward/guard leads the team in points, steals and blocks and is second in rebounds and minutes.
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