Quarles Posts Third Straight Double-Double at Juniata

HUNTINGDON, Pa. - Senior Kyani Quarles (Houston, Texas/Cristo Rey Jesuit) of the Goucher College women's basketball team posted her third straight double-double with 23 points and a career-high 17 rebounds, but the Gophers suffered a 71-56 setback to Juniata College at Memorial Gymnasium in Landmark Conference play Saturday afternoon.

• Goucher (3-10, 0-2 Landmark) jumped out to a 7-0 lead 3:30 into the game following a three by Kyla Smith (Easton, Pa./Easton).
• The Gophers held an 11-4 lead following a Smith layup at the 3:51 mark.
• Juniata (6-7, 1-1) chipped away and trailed 16-12 after the first quarter.

• The Eagles opened the second quarter with 17 straight points to build a 29-16 lead 5:30 before halftime.
• A layup by Sydney Nwuli (Severna Park, Md./Severna Park) with 4:21 on the clock halted the Juniata run.
• The two teams traded baskets for much of the rest of the quarter and the hosts held a 38-24 lead at intermission.

• Goucher cut the lead to 11, 44-33, three minutes into the second half following a conventional three-point play by Smith.
• After the Eagles led by as many as 16, Smith cut the lead to 13, 52-39, with 1:05 left on two Smith free throws.
• Juniata carried its 52-39 lead into the final frame.

• Back-to-back baskets by Quarles and Smith to open the fourth shrunk the lead to nine, 52-43, just over a minute in.
• A basket by Quarles with 6:27 on the clock made it a 57-49 contest.
• An 8-1 Juniata spurt put the hosts up 15, 65-50, with just under four minutes to go.
• Goucher cut the lead to 13 twice but got no closer. 

• Quarles finished two points shy of her career high in scoring, going 9-12 from the floor and 5-6 at the free throw line.
• Quarles' double-double was her third straight and sixth of the season.  She is averaging 17 points and 13.3 rebounds per game over the last three games.
• Quarles, who ranked second nationally in offensive rebounding, grabbed 12 of her 17 rebounds on the offensive end.  She also ranks second in the Landmark in total rebounding.
• Smith, who entered the game No. 5 nationally in scoring, recorded 23 points on 8-21 shooting, her seventh 20-plus scoring performance in 12 games.
• Goucher, which outrebounded Juniata 37-34, shot 39% overall and was 2-10 behind the arc and 12-17 at the free throw line.
• The Eagles shot 45% overall and were 8-18 behind the arc and 11-20 at the free throw line.

• Goucher is home for the first time in a month Tuesday night when it hosts Catholic in a 7 pm Landmark Conference game at the Decker Sports and Recreation Center.