Box Score

SELINSGROVE, Pa. – The Susquehanna women's basketball team could not keep the momentum going from a 44-point season-opening win last Saturday, falling to Elizabethtown 57-41 on Wednesday night in the Crusaders' home opener.

SU (1-1) held the undefeated Blue Jays (3-0) to just 23 second-half points but after scoring only 18 points of their own in the first half, the Crusaders ran out of time to mount any comeback.

Senior Mariah Monahan (Towanda, Pa./Towanda Area) led Susquehanna with 10 points while freshman Nikki Komara (Shamokin, Pa./Lourdes Regional) added six points and a team-high 11 boards to go along with three steals. Jonaida Williams (Williamsport, Pa./Loyalsock Twp.) chipped in six points and four rebounds.

The Crusaders shot just 21 percent from the floor but did sink 13-of-15 free shots for an 87 percent clip.

Monahan put her team up 3-0 just nine seconds into the game but Elizabethtown took its first lead, 4-3, on an Erika Ferro jumper at 17:56 and never looked back. Midway through the half, Susquehanna found itself trailing by 11 (16-5) and that deficit grew to 16 (34-18) by halftime.

The SU defense did limit the Blue Jays to 11 fewer points over the final 20 minutes of play but still trailed 50-22 at the 8:14 mark of the second period. Elizabethtown went more than two full minutes without scoring a point but it still stood 54-30 in favor of the Blue Jays with 5:01 to play.

Unfortunately Susquehanna struggled to close the gap and ultimately fell by 16 (57-41).

The Crusaders remain at home to host the annual Pepsi Tip-Off Tournament this weekend. SU faces CCNY on Saturday at 8 p.m. on the opening day of the women's portion of the tournament.