Courtesy of Juniata Athletics
HUNTINGDON, Pa.- The Juniata women’s basketball team picked up their first conference win of the year as they beat Goucher, 71-56, Saturday afternoon inside Memorial Gymnasium.

The Gophers sprinted out to a 9-4 lead, with Bri Bodtorf providing the offense for the Eagles early. Steph Emert converted a three from the left wing off a pass from under the hoop by Olivia Berg to make it 11-7. Emert turned provider as she found Emma Coolidge for a midrange jumper from the right side to make it 13-9. In the final seconds of the quarter, Emelie Nonemaker found Coolidge down low, who scored while being fouled. Her free throw cut the deficit to four, as JC trailed 16-12 after one.

Coolidge continued her onslaught to start the second with a pump fake and drive from the top of the key that she finished with her left hand to bring the Eagles within two. After a stop, Haily Sherman got in on the fun with a three from the right wing off a pass from Bodtorf. The first year from Milroy, Pa. added a layup and a jumper, with Kynnedy Miller splashing a three on the next possession. Sherman added her second triple of the quarter and followed with a layup as the Eagles led 29-16. Goucher finally scored on a layup for their first points of the quarter, more than six and half minutes in, as the Eagles were on a 15-2 run. Emily McCann swung the ball to Dani Scipioni for another Eagle three. The teams would trade layups in the final 30 seconds, with the Gophers scoring in the final 13 seconds, but Juniata went into the locker room up 38-24. The Eagles hit four threes in the second quarter on the way to their 26 points.

Goucher briefly got within eight midway through the fourth quarter, but Emert swished a three from the right corner off a Miller assist, and Coolidge made two foul shots as Juniata pulled away.

Four Eagles were in double figures, with Emert leading the way as she tallied a career-high 18 points to go with six rebounds, three assists, and six steals. Sherman amassed 12 points, three rebounds, two assists, and a block, while Bodtorf totaled 13 points, four rebounds, two assists, three steals, and a block. Coolidge came off the bench and contributed 14 points, five rebounds, and two steals.

Juniata will host Elizabethtown Wednesday at 7:00.