CURWENSVILLE — After having a dismal outing earlier in the week against Bellwood-Antis, the Curwensville Lady Tide were looking to get back on track inside Patton Hall on Friday night. Having not won in front of the home crowd since early December was motivating, as was trying to put the 50-point loss days earlier behind them. The opposition came in the form of the Lady Hornets from Juniata Valley.
On this night, the Hornets literally stung the home team, as the Lady Tide were cold-shooting on the floor, and were struck down again by turnovers, falling 44-10.
Curwensville’s woes began early in the evening, as the shots they were getting on the basket were decent, but not falling. In fact, the Lady Tide were kept scoreless through the first five minutes of the game, and would not score until a pair of free throws from Alyssa Bakaysa. The Lady Hornets, however, were taking advantage in getting rebounds, and converting the possessions into points.
After one quarter, the Lady Tide were looking at a 12-2 deficit, and it only got worse in the second quarter. Curwensville saw 11 of its 23 turnovers happen in the stanza, and frustration continued building. Shots weren’t going in, rebounds were not falling their way, and despite trying everything they could to get points on the board, nothing was working.
Curwensville headed into halftime down 27-6, with all their points coming from Bakaysa.
Juniata Valley continued their dominance as the third quarter continued, hitting the mercy rule clock with three minutes remaining, and cruising ahead by 29 points entering the final quarter.
For the Lady Hornets, Mckenna Hartman paced the squad with a game-high 12 points, while Avery Taylor added in another 11. Maddie Hopsicker would pace Juniata Valley on the boards, pulling down eight on the night.
Curwensville did manage to pull off a down-to-the-wire victory in the opening junior varsity game, 26-23.
There is no time to rest as after the weekend, Curwensville (3-5) heads on the road Monday to face Brockway. Junior varsity is at 6 p.m. with the varsity tip-off set for 7:30 p.m.
SCORE BY QUARTER
Juniata Valley 12 15 11 6 – 44
Curwensville 2 4 3 1 – 10
Juniata Valley – 44
Avery Taylor 4 1-2 11, Makayla Moskel 2 0-0 6, Maddie Hopsicker 2 2-5 6, Adria Russell 1 0-0 2, Mckenna Hartman 5 2-3 12, Mackenzie Coffman 3 0-0 6, Taryn Stewart 0 1-2 1, Mackenzie Hovak 0 0-0 0. TOTALS 17 6-12 44.
Curwensville – 10
Alyssa Bakaysa 2 2-2 6, Kyra Henry 0 0-0 0, Austyn Guiher 0 1-2 1, Joslynne Freyer 1 0-0 2, Skylar Pentz 0 0-2 0, Karleigh Freyer 0 1-2 1, Madison Weber 0 0-0 0, Janelle Passmore 0 0-0 0, Addison Butler 0 0-0 0, Rachelle Anderson 0 0-0 0. TOTALS 3 4-8 10.
GAME STATISTICS
Juniata Valley/Clearfield
Shooting: 17-53/3-33
Rebounds: 31/22
Fouls: 13 8
Turnovers: 9/22
Three-Point Shots: Taylor-2, Moskel-2