Boxscore
SELINSGROVE, Pa. -- Susquehanna University's senior guard
Ashley Watkins (La Habra Heights, Calif./Rosary)
notched a game-high 18 points, but Susquehanna fell to visiting
Juniata College, 67-55, in a Landmark Conference women's basketball
game on Senior Day at Orlando W. Houts Gymnasium on Feb. 20.
Watkins knocked down a game-high four
three-pointers (on five attempts)--all in the second half--and was
a perfect 4-for-4 from the free-throw line. She scored 16 of her 18
points in the second half and chipped in four rebounds.
Susquehanna (13-12, 7-7 Landmark) opened the game on a 9-3 run due
to 10 straight missed shots by Juniata (15-10, 9-5 Landmark). With
11 minutes, 23 seconds left in the first half, Juniata made its
first basket of the game on a three-pointer.
SU held a 15-12 lead with 6:05 to go in the half, but Juniata
netted two straight three-pointers to go up, 18-15. The Crusaders
responded with four points of their own before both teams traded
baskets to finish off the half. Juniata went into the break with a
slim 22-21 lead.
Crusaders junior forward Samantha Cartwright (Cranford,
N.J./Cranford) led all players with eight rebounds and
added nine points. Teammate and sophomore guard/forward
Jessica Zigarelli (Warren, N.J./Watchung Hills
Regional) dished out a game-high-tying four assists and
posted six points and five boards.
Junior guard Erika Barron (Tamaqua, Pa./Tamaqua
Area) made a game-high two steals to go along with nine
points.
The Eagles used a 12-4 run over the first 5:11 of the second half
to build a 34-25 lead--their biggest at the time. SU tried to fight
back, as Zigarelli and Watkins
combined to score the next 12 Crusaders points and cut the lead to
just four with 11:25 to go in the game, 41-37.
Watkins drained two three-pointers and hit a pair
of free-throws during that stretch, while
Zigarelli made a jumper and a layup.
The Juniata lead was trimmed to two points, 43-41, with 8:49
remaining, but the Eagles slowly added to their advantage and
pushed the difference out to 10 points with just over a minute
left.
Juniata had a strong supporting cast in the win. Junior forward
Jen Hnatuck (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Trinity HS) and freshman guard
Paige Robertson (Altoona, Pa./Altoona) each recorded 14 points.
Hnatuck, Robertson and junior forward Erin McGinley (Ashland,
Pa./Tri-Valley) tied a team-high with six rebounds. Hnatuck dished
out a game-high-tying four assists as well.
Sophomore guards Ashton Bankos (York, Pa./York Catholic) and
Meagan Raville (McSherrystown, Pa./Delone Catholic) also handed out
four assists.
Senior forward Kelly Rotan (Atco, N.J./Hammonton) blocked a
game-high two shots and registered 10 points and five rebounds.
Both teams took 56 shots in the game, but Juniata made 27 of those
attempts to SU's 22.
Juniata also outrebounded the Crusaders, 40-29.
Next Game: Wednesday, Feb. 24, at #10 Moravian
(Landmark Conference semifinals), TBA
