(Posted January 3, 2010)

HUNTINGDON, Pa. - Following a three-pointer with under 30 seconds remaining in regulation to get to the championship game yesterday, the Juniata College womens' basketball team used the momentum to defeat Manhattanville College, 76-59, to regain the Juniata Holiday Tournament trophy, this afternoon in the Kennedy Sports + Recreation Center.

Junior Jen Hnatuck's (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Trinity) first bucket of the day proved to keep the momentum going in favor of Juniata as the Eagles never trailed in the ballgame. Freshman Jordan Speck's (Huntingdon, Pa./Southern Huntingdon) three pointer with 6:20 left in the first half extended the lead to 14, the largest of the half.

The lead grew to 17 for Juniata following a Brittany Danel (Stoystown, Pa./North Star) three with 15:39 remaining in the game. The Eagles led 46-29 at that point.

The Vailiants made it interesting when they cut the lead to 7 When Courtney Turner nailed a jumper with 4:15 on the clock. That was the tail end of a 10-2 run by Manhattanville (6-4,2-0 Freedom) that saw the lead shrink to 60-53.

The Eagles responded with an 8-2 run of their own over the next 1:33 to widen the lead back to 13 at 68-55.

Juniata (7-5, 1-0 Landmark) hit its next six freethrows to close out the game, and take home its own Juniata Holiday Tournament Championship for the second year in a row.

Hnatuck was named tournament most valuable player as she finished with 22 points on 11-13 shooting. She recorded her fifth double-double on the season as she pulled down 10 rebounds in 26 minutes of action. For the weekend, she totaled 39 points, 16 rebounds and shot 75% from the field, making 18 of 24 attempts.

Sophomores Meagan Raville (McSherrystown, Pa./Delone Catholic) and Ashton Bankos (York, Pa./York Catholic) tallied double digit points against the Valiants as well with 13 and 11, respectively.

Earlier in the day, Cabrini College and St. Mary's College of Maryland played for the consolation and the Cavaliers took out the Seahawks, 60-45.

Four players scored in double figures for Cabrini as they improveed to 4-5 on the season.

Leading the way for the Cavaliers was Kate Walck and Kara Hinkelmon with 15 points each.

Deana DiAmico and Alyssa Brrady chipped in with 13 points a piece.

Steph Saint-Aubin led all scorers with 17 for St. Mary's. Pui Sham also recorded double digits with 10 points. The Seahawks are now 2-9 overall.

All Tournament Team
St. Mary's College, G, #24 - Jamie Roberts
Cabrini College, G, #15 - Alyssa Brady
Manhattanville College, G, #1 - Courtney Turner
Manhattanville College, G, #5 - Simona Gordon
Juniata College, F, #52 - Kelly Rotan

Most Valuable Player
Juniata College, F, #33 - Jen Hnatuck

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Contact April Feagley at feaglea@juniata.edu or (814) 641-3131 for more information.