No. 17 Eagles Pull Away from Gophers with 17-0 Run

TOWSON, Md. — Goucher appeared to have succeeded at riding out the storm tonight after nationally ranked Juniata bolted out to a 15-point advantage before the game was even 12 minutes old. Before the first half concluded, the Gophers were able to knock their deficit down to 34-31 on a pair of free throws by Sharnell Huff (Bowie, Md./Bowie).

Six minutes into the second half, the two teams were still separated by only eight points. One, however, was poised at that juncture to break the game wide open.

The Eagles, who entered the game tied with Scranton for first place in the Landmark Conference and ranked 17th in the USA Today ESPN Division III Top 25 Coaches Poll released earlier in the week, reeled off 17 consecutive points, taking a 67-42 lead on a 3-point basket by Jordan Speck. The 25-point cushion was more than the Gophers could overcome with fewer than six minutes left to be played and they went on to suffer a 79-50 setback.

The only time Goucher led the entire game was when Precious Kollock (Baltimore, Md./Patapsco) was fouled while making a jumper just 1:39 in. Kollock made the free throw to complete the three-point play and put the Gophers (3-11, 0-4 Landmark) up 3-2.

Juniata responded with a run of eight consecutive points, the first six of which were scored by Natalie Glinsky. The Eagles (14-1, 4-0 Landmark) assumed their biggest advantage of the opening period on a free throw by Jordan Hileman that made the score 24-9 with 8:55 to play before halftime.

(more to come)