No. 6 Cardinals seek eighth straight win on Wednesday at Juniata

WASHINGTON - After downing Merchant Marine Academy over the weekend by a score of 74-57, No. 6 CUA hits the road on Wednesday to face Juniata.  The Cardinals placed all five starters in double figures in the win over USMMA, led by Steve Limberiou’s 20 points.  CUA’s defense forced the Mariners into 38-percent shooting and 20 turnovers, and the Cards converted those 20 miscues into 19 points.  CUA is now riding a season-high seven game win streak with five of those wins coming at home.
 
CUA meets Juniata for the 13th time this week with the Eagles leading the series 7-5.  The teams split their two meetings last season, with the home team winning both games.  CUA has dropped its last two games at Juniata, including a 76-68 decision last season.

CUA’s three-man senior class of Shawn Holmes, Chris Kearney and Nate Koenig is averaging 41.6 points, 15.5 rebounds and 6.7 assists per game.  Holmes (17.0) and Kearney (16.8) are averaging career highs in scoring, while Koenig’s 5.1 rebounds per game is a career best.

Since falling at DeSales on December 5, CUA has ripped off seven straight wins and the Cardinals are getting the job done with their defense.  CUA has held those seven opponents to only 52.1 points on 36% shooting from the field and 28% shooting from 3-point range.  The Cards have also forced an average of 17.7 turnovers in those games.

Sophomore Steve Limberiou has had the hot hand of late, averaging 19.2 points on 53% shooting in his last six games.  Limberiou has scored in double figures in each of those games, topping out with a career-high 27 vs. Denison.  Limberiou ranks second in the Landmark Conference in three-point field goal percentage, fifth in scoring, and ninth in field goal percentage.

In four of their last five games, the Cardinals have committed single digit turnovers.  Not surprisingly, CUA leads the Landmark Conference in fewest turnovers per game (9.8) and turnover margin (+7.15).

After opening the season with five straight wins, Juniata has dropped five of its last eight, including three straight.  The Eagles are 0-2 in the Landmark Conference, following a 62-54 setback to Scranton at home over the weekend.  Brian Scholly is the team’s leading scorer at 15.3 points per game, and is joined in double figures by Kevin Stapleton (12.4), Alex Raymond (11.4) and Jeremy Hays (11.0).  The Eagles advanced to last season’s conference championship, before falling to Scranton by eight points.

For more information on Wednesday’s matchup, check out the CUA game notes.

CUA and Juniata tip things off at 7 p.m. on Wednesday evening.  Links for live video and stats can be found here.