Box Score

SELINSGROVE, Pa. – Junior forward Gina Palazzi (Newfoundland, Pa. / Wallenpaupack) scored 15 points but Susquehanna's women's basketball team fell to Elizabethtown 61-47 on Wednesday evening in the 2011-12 opener.

Both teams struggled to score in the first half and the Crusaders (0-1) were held scoreless for a six minute stretch as the Blue Jays (1-0) went into halftime with a 27-22 lead.

Freshman Cheyenne Stonerook had 10 points on 3-of-5 shooting in the opening half for Elizabethtown.

The Blue Jays held the lead for the entire second half but SU came within six points after a three-pointer by freshman guard Eleni Dimou (Center Valley, Pa. / Southern Lehigh) with 4:42 remaining in the contest.

But Elizabethtown held on for the win behind solid free throw shooting down the stretch.

Sophomore forward Amara Boone (Schwenksville, Pa/ Perkiomen Valley) chipped in with 11 points and five boards. Dimou finished with eight points in her SU debut. Palazzi grabbed seven rebounds in defeat.

Stonerook recorded a double-double with 19 points and 10 rebounds for the Blue Jays. Juniors Nadine Yunginger had 15 points and Katy Fogel finished with 11 points and nine boards.

Both teams shot poorly from the field, with Elizabethtown fairly slightly better with a 35 percent to 22 percent advantage. The Crusaders held the edge in offensive boards, 18-15.

The Crusaders are back in action this weekend in the annual Pepsi/Weis Markets Tipoff Tournament. Penn State-Altoona squares off against SUNY-Fredonia at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 19 and SU plays Penn College following that contest at 8 p.m.