Washington, D.C. – Three starters for the Susquehanna University women's basketball team reached the double-digit plateau in their matchup with The Catholic University of America Saturday afternoon. Susquehanna (5-11, 2-4 LC) gave up a nine-point advantage in falling 57-51 to Catholic (10-7, 2-4 LC) in Landmark Conference action.
 
Susquehanna 51, Catholic 57
 
How It Happened

• Susquehanna widened an 8-7 lead to nine by closing out the first quarter on an 8-0 run. Sophomore guard Nevin Hoenninger (Lancaster, Pa./Lampeter-Strasburg) knocked down one of her three triples at 2:29 to double the SU margin from +3 to +6.
• The Cardinals responded with a 13-5 run in the second period to close the gap to 21-20 at 4:41 as an Amanda Johnson three-pointer sparked an initial 5-0 start by Catholic. Freshman Amalia Esposito (Coraopolis, Pa./Montour) drained a key three-point shot at 1:20 off a pass from Hoenninger to build up a three-point River Hawk lead before halftime.
• Hoenninger (5 points) and sophomore forward Alanna Connolly (Whitehouse Station, N.J./Hunterdon) combined for nine points as Susquehanna opened up the third frame with an 11-7 push to double its lead from +4 to +8 with 4:05 left in the quarter. Megan Stafford got the Cardinals within five at the end of three.
• After Luca Mamula hit a jumper to make it a three-point game at the start of the fourth, sophomore captain Erin McQuillen (Cresskill, N.J./Cresskill) nailed her second trey of the afternoon to give the River Hawks a 43-37 lead at 7:33.
• Three minutes later, Catholic claimed its first lead since 9:52 of the first period as five straight points from Stafford capped an 11-2 Cardinal run for a 48-45 margin. Connolly made two foul shots to cut the lead to one at 3:42. Despite SU missing its next five field goals, CUA was only able to build a six-point advantage.
• Connolly and McQuillen each hit two free throws to pull the River Hawks within 54-51 with 37 seconds remaining in the game. Susquehanna would get no closer as the team was off the mark on their next three attempts and the Cardinals sealed the win by making half of their six free throws.

 
Inside the Box Score

• Susquehanna tallied 24 points off of 28 Cardinal miscues for the game.
• Twenty-two fouls on the River Hawks sent Catholic to the line 29 times with the Cardinals hitting 21 of them to assist in their comeback. CUA, who outscored the River Hawks, 24-13, in the fourth, also won the rebounding battle, 44-28.
• Hoenninger paced SU in its third straight loss with 13 points as she went 3-of-3 from downtown plus grabbing four rebounds and three steals. Her three triples are a career high.
• Connolly went 6-of-6 at the line as she finished with a career-best 12 points and six boards while McQuillen added 11 points, three caroms, and three assists. Connolly's six free throws made are a career high.
• Sydney Poindexter led all players with 20 points and 12 rebounds while Stafford came off the bench to contribute 15 points and six boards.

 
Up Next for the River Hawks

• Jan. 23 vs. Moravian (10-6, 2-3 LC) – O.W. Houts Gymnasium – Landmark Conference contest – 7:00 p.m.
• Jan. 26 vs. Goucher (5-11, 0-5 LC) – Alumni Day – O.W. Houts Gymnasium – Landmark Conference contest – 2:00 p.m.

 
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