WILKES-BARRE – Visiting Juniata College received 19 points from Katy Leamer off the bench as the Eagles reserves outscored host Wilkes University reserves 44-21 on way to a 77-68 non-conference victory Saturday afternoon at the Marts Center.
 
Wilkes falls to 1-10 overall after the loss while Juniata improves to 6-8 on the season following the road victory.
 
Juniata raced out to a 7-0 lead in the games first four minutes before a Wilkes rally brought the Lady Colonels back into the contest. Two free throws from Emelie Meinhart (Bowmanstown, PA/Palmerton) followed by back-to-back Emily Sofranko (Jim Thorpe, PA/Marian Catholic) and Cara Basile (Whitehall, PA/Whitehall) layups gave Wilkes its first lead at 14-13 with 3:01 left in the first quarter. Juniata answered back scoring the next two buckets before settling for a 16-13 advantage after one quarter of play.
 
Wilkes built a lead to as many as three points early in the second quarter thanks to scores from Basile and Missy Oertner (Schnecksville, PA/Parkland) with 7:23 left in the half. The teams traded baskets over the final six minutes before a Leamer jumper and fast break layup gave the visiting Eagles a 42-41 lead at the break.
 
Juniata kept its lead throughout the third quarter as Oertner connected on a jumper to cut the deficit to 56-53 with :33 left in the frame. Two Jamie Campbell (Cinnaminson, NJ/Cinnaminson) free throws brought Wilkes to within one 56-55 at the start of the fourth quarter, but a 12-4 run from the Eagles over the final four minutes of the stanza sealed the non-conference road victory.
 
Basile led all Wilkes scorers with a season-high 21 points on 9-for-18 shooting. Sofranko followed with 13 points and three assists.
 
Natalie Hager joined Leamer in double figures tallying 17 points and 12 rebounds while Dani Atkinson added 12 points and four boards.
 
Up next Wilkes travels to La Plume, Pa. Monday for a non-conference matchup at Keystone College starting at 7:00 p.m.