Box Score

ROCHESTER, N.Y. – A defensive struggle unfortunately went against the Susquehanna women's basketball team as the Crusaders dropped a 50-47 decision to St. Mary's (Md.) in the opening game of the Nazareth Tournament.

In a game that featured 12 lead changes and nine tied scores, SU (2-8) shot only 28.6 percent from the floor but did sink better than 87 percent of its free throws, which helped keep the Crusaders in the game for most of the 40 minutes of action. Unfortunately, Susquehanna had just eight assists to its 20 turnovers, which translated into 16 Seahawks (4-7) points.

Freshman Shelby Weikel (Gordon, Pa./North Schuylkill) was the team's top scorer with nine points. Gina Palazzi (Newfoundland, Pa./Wallenpaupack) chipped in eight points to go along with 11 rebounds, tied for the game high.

It was 7-0 in favor of St. Mary's before Ainsley Rossitto (Rocky Hill, Conn./Kingswood-Oxford) drained a three with 16:40 on the clock for a 7-3 score. The Seahawks still maintained a seven-point lead, 12-5, just one minute later, however.

SU then put together a 6-0 run, with four points from Weikel, to make it a one-point game at 12-11 with 12 minutes remaining in the half.

At the midway point of the period, it stood 16-13 in favor of St. Mary's. The Crusaders never let that lead expand and in fact took a one-point lead three different times over the 6:27 of play before going into halftime down by only one, 28-27.

Nora Joyce (Scranton, Pa./West Scranton) knotted the game at 33 with a jumper at 15:49. With 10:01 on the clock and St. Mary's holding a slim, 36-35 lead, an Ariana Stowe (Bethesda, Md./Bethesda-Chevy Chase) layup tied it at 37. Mariah Monahan's (Towanda, Pa./Towanda Area) three just over two minutes later then handed the Crusaders a 42-40 edge.

The Seahawks then scored 10 of the next 12 points to go up 50-44 with less than 90 seconds to play. A Korey McCaffrey (Millheim, Pa.,/Penns Valley Area) trey with 1:11 on the clock brought the lead back down to three points, 50-47. The final 1:11 of play went without a point from either team, though, meaning St. Mary's held on for the 50-47 win.

The women will play the non-winner of Friday night's Nazareth vs. John Jay game on Saturday at 1 p.m.