Gophers Fall to Juniata on Senior Day

TOWSON, Md. - Juniors Merci Turner and Maiya Villanueva combined for 33 points, but the Goucher College women's basketball team was downed by Juniata College 76-51 in Landmark Conference action on Saturday at the Decker Sports and Recreation Center.  Prior to the game the Gophers celebrated Senior Day.

• The game saw a pair of ties early, with a Turner basket for Goucher (1-22, 1-15 Landmark) tying it 4-4 at the 6:06 mark.
• A three by Darby Sherman pulled Goucher within one, 10-9, with 3:00 to go.
• Juniata (4-19, 3-13) scored the final five points of the quarter to build an 18-11 lead.

• The Gophers cut the lead to five, 22-17, on a Savannah Holmes basket two minutes in.
• A 12-0 Eagle run capped by two free throws put Juniata in front 34-17 at the 3:06 mark.
• Goucher scored the next five points, with a Turner steal and layup with 1:53 on the clock making it 34-22.
• The guests took a 38-22 lead into intermission.

• Juniata upped its lead to 19, 45-26, at the midway point of the second half.
• Seven straight Gopher points capped by a Villanueva layup with 3:35 to go pulled the hosts within a dozen, 45-33.
• Goucher cut the lead to 12 two more times in the quarter and trailed 50-36 with 10 minutes to play.

• Villanueva scored 45 seconds into the fourth to make it a 52-40 contest.
• The Eagles used an 8-1 spurt to build a 60-41 lead with 7:10 remaining.
• After a Turner basket made it 64-46 with 4:33 left, Juniata closed the game on a 12-5 run to finish off the victory. 

• Turner finished 7-11 from the floor and also registered four rebounds and three steals.
• Villanueva grabbed five rebounds to go along with her 14 points.
• Briyah Haggins chipped in with six points, while Holmes and Sherman each added five.  Holmes also grabbed seven rebounds.
• Goucher shot 30.2% overall, was 2-25 from long range and 11-20 at the free throw line.
• Juniata, which held a 59-33 rebound advantage, shot 39.4% overall, was 5-27 behind the arc and 15-21 at the stripe.
• Prior to the game, the Gophers honored their lone senior, Julia Cavoli.  Goucher also recognized graduating graduate assistant Maggie Mehan and junior international student Louise Lavaux, along with managers Lydia Bailey and Vanessa Cisse.

• Goucher welcomes nationally-ranked and league-leading Catholic on Wednesday night for a 6 pm game at the Decker SRC.