HUNTINGDON, Pa. – After a pair of free throws by sophomore Erica Lutz (Bernville, Pa./Hamburg) with 15 seconds left gave the Lycoming College women's basketball team a three-point lead, Lycoming held Juniata College without a shot in the waning seconds before junior Akilah McFadden (Lewisburg, Pa./Lewisburg Area) came up with a steal to seal the 69-66 non-conference win at Memorial Gymnasium on Wednesday, Jan. 2.
 
Lutz led the Warriors, who shot 46 percent (27-of-59) from the field in the game to improve to 10-4 overall, with 17 points and junior Kayla Kline (Mifflinburg, Pa./Mifflinburg Area) added 15 points and 10 rebounds for her sixth double-double of the season. McFadden added 14 points, six assists and a career-best seven steals. Senior Becca Painter (Elverson, Pa./Owen J. Roberts) hit 3-of-6 from deep to finish with nine points, two assists and two steals and freshman Allison Wagner (York, Pa./Central York) posted six points, four rebounds and two steals.
 
Juniata (3-9 overall), which trailed by as many as 15, drew within five points with 8:03 left in the fourth quarter before Painter responded with a 3-pointer and Lycoming got the lead back to nine before Juniata closed within five at 63-58 with four minutes left. Lycoming was able to keep the gap at seven for the next two minutes before the Eagles scored four points to close within three at 65-62. Lutz hit a layup in transition to make it a five-point lead, but a backcourt steal led to a layup from Kaeana Rebert to make it 67-66 with 20 seconds left. Lutz was able to close the game, though, by hitting two free throws with 15 seconds left and an entry pass was picked off by McFadden with three seconds left to end the comeback attempt.
 
The Warriors took control late in the first quarter, going on an 18-3 run in the final four minutes of the period to take a 28-16 lead into the second period. McFadden guided the run, posting six points, two steals and an assist. In the early minutes of the game, the teams fought through six lead changes and four ties.
 
In the second quarter, Lycoming got the lead to 14 at 32-18 off a layup from Lutz with 8:07 left, before Juniata spent the next 4:30 on an 11-2 run to pull within five. Lycoming scored the last six points off the period, the last four in transition from junior Megan Helminiak (Cogan Station, Pa./St. John Neumann), to take a 42-33 lead into the break.
 
In the third quarter, Lycoming got the lead to a game-high 15 points with 2:30 left, leading 53-38 after a jumper by Kline before Juniata closed the gap to nine points by the end of the quarter by scoring the last six points of the period.
 
Gracie Stauffer finished with 24 points and 20 rebounds to lead the Eagles and Gracie Long added 10 points and four rebounds.
 
The Warriors get back on the court on Saturday, Jan. 5, when they head to King's (Pa.) for the final non-conference tilt of the year at 1 p.m.