Goucher Women's Basketball Falls In Final Quarter To Juniata, 61-56

BALTIMORE, Md. – The Goucher College women's basketball team played incredible well on Wednesday night despite the outcome. The Gophers held the lead for a good amount of the first three quarters and stood toe-to-toe with Juniata College until the end in a 61-56 setback in Landmark Conference action.

Alayna McFadden (Silver Spring, Md./Montgomery Blair) paced Goucher with 16 points and five rebounds. The freshman shot 7-fo-14 from the floor including 2 of 7 from the behind the arc including a trey at the halftime buzzer to give the Gophers a 31-28 lead going into the locker room. The freshman has reached double figures in points in six of her last seven games and 15 times on the season. She has also hauled in at least five board 18 times in her freshman campaign. McFadden ranks second on the team with 14.1 points and leads with 8.1 rebounds per game.

Anise Williams (West Palm Beach, Fla./The Benjamin School) stuffed the stat sheet with 13 points, six rebounds, eight steals, four assists and three blocks. She has now scored double digits in eight-straight games and 19 times this season. Williams notched a career-high three rejections while posted eight steals for the second time this year and has seven games with at least five thefts. She leads the team with 15.9 points per game.

Jorryn Avery (Glen Burnie, Md./Severn School) added a career-high 12 points and added five rebounds, two steals and two assists. After notching eight points or more in three of her first six games, Avery notched her first career double-digit point game thanks to four baskets from the floor, a trey and three free throws. It is the third time this year she has hauled in at least five boards and the second time in four games after grabbing a career-high six caroms against Catholic on January 23.

The game started with an Avery 3-pointer. Trailing 4-3, Goucher used an 11-6 spurt to take a 14-10 lead with 3:58 left in the first quarter after a pair of freebies by Shelby Apostol (Oxnard, Calif./Saint Bonaventure). Williams powered the run with four points. The Eagles scored the final five points of the stanza to take a 15-14 edge.

The second quarter was a seesaw battle that ended with McFadden's triple as time expired in the second quarter to break a 28-all standstill and give the Gophers a three-point advantage at the break.

With Goucher leading 35-32 with 5:50 left in the third quarter, the Gophers scored consecutive baskets by Williams and Avery to take a 39-34 lead. Avery handed Goucher a seven-point lead for the second time in the third quarter on a basket in the paint for a 42-35 lead with 3:19 left.

The Gophers went into the final frame with a 43-39 advantage, but Juniata used a 10-2 run to take the lead for good. Goucher would make it a one-possession game four times in the final five minutes, but the Eagles had an answer each time.

Nicole Wolard (Tampa, Fla./Wharton) chipped in nine points, six rebounds and four assists in the loss.

Goucher returns to action on Saturday at home against Drew University. Tipoff is 2 p.m. The day will also be Breast Cancer Awareness Day and fans are encouraged to wear pink to the game. In addition, a limited number of pink t-shirts will be available for $12, a 50/50 raffle and $1 free throws will also take place with all proceeds going to the Red Devils Organization. In addition during halftime of the women's basketball game, the 2018 Goucher College men's tennis Landmark Conference championship team will receive its rings during a ring ceremony.