Eagles Pass Gophers in Second Half, Register 60-33 Win

Lambert Hits Three Shots in Early 9-0 Run, Finishes with 10 Points

HUNTINGDON, Pa. — Even though what had been a nine-point lead midway through the first half had been reduced to a single point by the end of the period, Goucher seemed to be in position to knock off Juniata and pick up its first win of the 2010-11 season heading into the final 20 minutes of today's Landmark Conference contest.

But things aren't always as they seem.

Instead the Eagles immediately seized control of the game by scoring the first 15 points of the second half. The Gophers, who were 3-for-27 (.111) from the field in the period, were unable to avoid their 11th straight loss to start the season as they bowed to Juniata, 60-33.

A run of nine consecutive points that started with the two teams deadlocked at 6-6 provided head coach Didi Cotton's Gophers (0-11, 0-3 Landmark) with a 15-6 advantage after 9:27. The spurt featured three field goals by freshman forward Taquasia Lambert (Brooklyn, N.Y./Patapsco), who finished as Goucher's only double-digit scorer, and a 3-point basket by junior guard/forward Elizabeth von Ende (Leawood, Kan./American Hebrew Academy).

The Eagles (9-5, 2-1 Landmark) went ahead 22-21 on a 3-pointer by Meagan Raville with 1:15 remaining before halftime, but the lead switched hands one final time in the period when junior guard Amy Smith (Logan Twp., N.J./Paulsboro) converted a layup with :02 showing on the clock to put the Gophers up 23-22.

It took Goucher 10:01 to get its first field goal of the second half, and by that time Juniata was comfortably ahead, 42-27.

Lambert remained stuck on eight points until she got a layup to drop with 2:42 remaining. She finished with 10 points.

Jen Hnatuck was the leading scorer for Juniata as she contributed 16 points to the victory.