Jan. 4, 2008

Stats

HUNTINGDON, Pa. - Freshman Megan Bouwens scored in double figures for the third time this season finishing the game with a team-high 12 points in a 63-59 loss at Juniata College on Friday night in the first game of the Juniata College Holiday Tournament. The Eagles improved to 6-4 overall with the four-point win while Adrian College is 3-7 overall heading into tomorrow's consolation contest against Hamilton College which dropped a 74-60 decision to SUNY-Brockport in the earlier game on Friday.

The first half saw the host institution jump out to a 37-28 lead in a half which featured six ties and three lead changes. Juniata converted off turnovers and held a 22-10 edge at intermission. The Bulldogs held a 14-3 advantage in bench points as Bouwens scored six first-half points.

The Eagles could not extend their lead into double digits in the second half as the Bulldogs kept fighting towards possibly regaining the lead. Liz Hafeli drained a three-pointer at the 13:56 mark to Adrian within 41-38 and one possession from a possible tie. Adrian chipped even closer at the 10:03 mark to 47-46 on a jumper by Kim Olech. AC did grab a lead at 50-49 on a free throw by Bouwens for their first lead since the 7:28 mark of the first half.

Both teams showed grit in the closing minutes and the game was tied for the 11th time with 3:21 to go on a free throw by Nichole Roose. Gina Piccolini made a clutch three-pointer at the 2:26 mark to give Juniata the lead for good as Adrian went 1-of-6 from the field in the final 2:37 and were held scoreless in the final 2:17. Piccolini gave the Eagles another three-point lead after an Anita Stamps jumper cut the lead down to one. The game's final point was a Kelly Ashcraft free throw with 11 seconds left to seal the win for the Eagles.

Adrian coughed up the ball 26 times which led to 27 points for Juniata. The Bulldogs hit the boards and outrebounded the Eagles, 44-37, including 19 offensive boards and 15 second chance points. Bouwens nearly had a double-double with nine rebounds to go with her 12 points. Her nine boards was also a season-high as she played 23 minutes off the bench. Hafeli scored eight points also off the bench and made two of her three triple tries while pulling down five boards. The team's leading scorer, Ashley McClarren, ended up with eight points on 2-of-3 shooting and 4-of-5 accuracy from the stripe in 20 minutes. The Bulldogs shot 35 percent for the evening while Juniata was 25-of-60 for a 41.7 percent clip.