Nikki Wilborn’s shot advances Greensboro College Women to Sweet 16: Chicago up next for Pride…

Huntingdon, Pa. – Nikki Wilborn (Graham NC/Graham) made a three-point basket with 2.7 seconds left to lift Greensboro College over Juniata, 57-55, on Saturday night. With the win, GC advanced to its first ever Sweet 16.

Leading 55-54, Juniata’s Jen Hnatuck missed a free throw with 11 seconds left. Andrienne Terrell (Omaha, NE/Decatur) grabbed the rebound, dribbled up the court and found Wilborn in the left corner. Wilborn’s shot gave her 17 points in the contest, and sealed the win for The Pride. The Eagles could not get a shot off on their last possession.

“My first thought was that she made the shot to get my first win last year at Bridgewater,” Pride Head Coach Randy Tuggle recalled. “Now she hits one to send us to the Sweet 16.”

The Pride got an outstanding performance by Danielle Duncan (Greensboro, NC/Ragsdale). She scored a game-high 28 points and recorded 10 rebounds. She was 12-18 from the field, and made 4-5 free throws.

Juniata’s Megan Raville made a three-pointer with 6:32 left to give the Eagles a 52-46 edge, the biggest lead by either team in the game.

“That was an opportunity for them to quit, but they didn’t,” Tuggle said. “We stayed focused and closed the game out. When we played good defense, they didn’t score.”

The game was tied 20 times, and the lead changed hands on 13 occasions. Both teams shot 40-percent and had 38 rebounds. JC had 18 turnovers to The Pride’s 15. The score was tied 30-30 at halftime.

Juniata ends its year at 22-7. Hnatuck scored a team-best 13 points for the Eagles.

The Pride improved to 28-2, the best record of any GC basketball team. Greensboro advances to face the University of Chicago (24-3) next Friday. The game will be one of two games at a to-be-determined site.