HUNTINGDON, Pa. – Senior forward Alexandra Blair netted her 1,000 career point as Moravian College fell to nationally-ranked #10 Juniata College 71-60 in the Landmark Conference semifinals. Blair finished with 18 points, one block and eight rebounds, which moved her into seventh all-time with 695 career rebounds.
#10 Juniata (25-1) will take on The Catholic University of America in the Landmark Conference Championship game on Saturday, February 25th.
Sophomore guard Katie O'Rourke put Moravian (15-11) on the board first with a layup, but junior forward Alyssia Gordon answered right back with a jumper two minutes into the game. The Eagles would exchange baskets with the Greyhounds until Juniata went on a 6-0 run with points from junior guards Jordan Speck and Natalie Glinsky, and sophomore forward Kate McDonald. The Eagles took a 12-6 lead with 14:37 remaining in the half.
Blair would end the Eagles run with a jumper. Freshman forward Alexis Wright would go in for the tough layup while being fouled on the play. She would convert for the three-point play to make the score 14-11 six minutes into the contest.
Senior guard Ashton Bankos would hit a three with 10:40 to go in the half to put Juniata up by eight, but senior guard Hilary Murray responded back with a three of her own. A minute later senior guard Meagan Raville would nail a three-pointer to put the Eagles back up by eight at 22-14.
Glinsky and Gordon would continue the Eagles run with back-to-back jumpers. Sophomore guard Alyssa Hann would end their run, and classmate guard Danielle Brogan would add to it with a layup of her own to make the score 26-18 with 6:46 remaining in the half. A minute later Speck would nail a deep three to put Juniata up by 13 at 34-21 with 5:46 to play in the half.
A three from the corner by Brogan would bring the Hounds back within ten points at 34-24 with 2:32 remaining in the first half. Both teams would exchange baskets the rest of the half as the Eagles would take a 42-31 lead into the locker room.
Moravian shot 50-percent from the field while Juniata shot 45-percent from the field in the first half. The Eagles grabbed five more rebounds and committed six less turnovers in the first half. The Greyhounds were led by Blair with eight points and two boards while Raville led Juniata with 12 points and three rebounds.
Bankos would get the Eagles on the board first in the second half with two free throws. Blair answered back with a jumper of her own. That bucket gives Blair 1,000 points for her career. Junior guard Amanda Kreuder would bring Moravian back within single digits of the lead at 44-35 just a minute into the second half.
Both squads would keep exchanging shots as a jumper from O'Rourke would make the score 50-41, Juniata with 13 minutes remaining in the contest. Back-to-back layups from Bankos and Glinsky would put the Eagles up 54-41 with 12 minutes to play. Another layup from Blair would make the score 54-43 with 10:42 left in the game. A three-pointer from sophomore guard Jordan Hileman would put the Eagles up by 16 points with 8:40 left to play.
Back-to-back layups from Wright and Blair would make the score 63-49, Eagles with 5:51 remaining in the game. Senior guard Cassandra Phillips hit a three a minute later to bring Moravian within ten points of the lead at 65-55. The Greyhounds wouldn't get much closer as the Eagles went onto win 71-60.
Wright put up 12 points and eight rebounds for Moravian while O'Rourke had nine rebounds and six points. Brogan finished with eight points while Murray had four assists and three points.
Juniata had four players in double figures for the game. Bankos led the way with a double-double off of 15 points and ten boards while Glinsky tallied up 15 points. Raville had 12 points and five boards while Hileman finished with 11 points.
Moravian shot 40-percent from the field while Juniata shot 42-percent from the field in the first half. The Eagles held the rebounding advantage at 40 to 36 while committing five less turnovers.
Moravian ends its season with a 15-11 record. The Greyhounds will find out on Monday if they'll make their 13th ECAC Tournament appearance and second straight.
