Eagles Dip Into Reserves to Down Gophers

Eagles Dip Into Reserves to Down Gophers

Swan, Roberts-Brown Combine for 30 Points in 61-53 Loss

Feb. 10, 2008

HUNTINGDON, Pa. - Together, Shadae Swan (Baltimore, MD/St. Frances Academy) and Leia Roberts-Brown (Washington, DC/Archbishop Carroll) scored 30 points, which is one more than the combined point total of Juniata's five starters. But bench scoring proved to be the difference today at the Eagles defeated the Gophers, 61-53, in Landmark Conference action.

Juniata's bench outscored Goucher's reserves, 32-3. Neither of the Eagles' top two scorers - Claudia McDowell with 12 points or Kelly Ashcraft with 10 - were in the starting line-up.

Swan led all scorers as she produced 18 points, extending her streak of double-digit scoring performances to 68 consecutive games dating back to the 2004-05 season. Roberts-Brown finished with 12 points.

Although the Eagles (14-8, 7-4 Landmark) led by as many as nine points in the first half, the Gophers trailed by only 29-25 at halftime. They opened the second period with six unanswered points on baskets by Swan, Francheska Guilfu (Bridgeport, CT/Preston) and Roberts-Brown to grab a 31-29 advantage.

Juniata responded with a run of 11 unanswered points, turning the two-point deficit into a 40-31 lead on a pair of free throws by McDowell with 15:28 left to play.

With 3:51 remaining, the Gophers closed to within 51-47 on a basket by Swan, but the Eagles' subsequent possession culminated in a three-point basket by Ali Meckley that restored Juniata's lead to seven points.

For the game, the Gophers were 23-for-48 (.479) from the field.