SCRANTON, Pa. – The Susquehanna University women's basketball team returned to the win column Saturday afternoon as the River Hawks picked up a dominant non-conference win. First-year head coach Gabby Holko's current team, Susquehanna (7-2), handed her former team, Marywood University (2-7), an 84-65 setback as sophomore Amalia Esposito (Coraopolis, Pa./Montour) recorded her second consecutive double-double.
 
Susquehanna 84, Marywood 65
 
How It Happened
First Quarter

• The River Hawks dropped 20-plus points in the first 10 minutes as SU shot 10-of-18 (55.6%) from the field.
• Susquehanna rolled out to a 13-0 advantage before the Pacers scored their first basket of the game at 7:20 after missing their first five shots and turning the ball over once.
• Marywood closed the gap to 15-10 at 4:37 before the River Hawks carried a 25-15 into the second period.
• The River Hawks dominated the paint, 16-6, and tallied 12 fast break points while Esposito notched 14 of her 20 points in the first frame, including SU's first 10 of the game.

 
Second Quarter

• Susquehanna stretched the lead to 29-15 as junior guard Nevin Hoenninger (Lancaster, Pa./Lampeter-Strasburg) made one of two free throws at 7:01.
• The Pacers responded with a 9-3 spurt to pull within eight at 3:53 but the River Hawks rebuilt a double-digit lead with back-to-back baskets by first-year guard Kaitlyn Lynch (Andover, N.J./Newton) and headed into halftime with a 40-30 lead.

 
Halftime

• Esposito lead all scorers at the break with 16 points while Aryah Aungst paced Marywood with 10.
• The River Hawks posted a .429 (15-35) field goal percentage in the first half compared to the hosts' .355 (11-31).

 
Third Quarter

• The River Hawks grew their lead to as many as 21 on a Hoenninger triple at 4:56 and took a 67-47 margin into the final quarter.
• Susquehanna, who shot nearly 59-percent (10-of-17) in the quarter, was led by junior captain Erin McQuillen's (Cresskill, N.J./Cresskill) seven points while sophomore forward Olivia Brandt (Bethlehem, Pa./Notre Dame) added six.

 
Fourth Quarter

• Marywood edged the River Hawks, 18-17, in the final period but Susquehanna's lead was insurmountable as the visitors led by 20 or more the rest of the way, including 27 at 6:24 on a pair of Lynch free throws.

 
Inside the Box Score

• Susquehanna posted season-highs of 84 points, 30 field goals made, and a .476 field goal percentage in today's win.
• For the fifth time this season, the River Hawks outrebounded their opponent, registering a +11 rebounding margin (51-40).
• SU controlled the paint with a 42-26 margin.
• Marywood forced the River Hawks into a season-high 20 points with 13 steals.
• The Pacers maintain a narrow hold on the series lead with a 14-12 record but Susquehanna snapped a two-game skid against MU with today's victory.

 
Top Performers

• All five starters for the River Hawks scored in double-figures.
• Esposito has now recorded a double-double in three of the last four games, this time pouring in a game-high 20 points on 10-of-16 shooting and hauling a game-best 11 boards. She added five assists as well.
• McQuillen finished with 15 points on 6-of-11 shooting, six rebounds, six assists, and three steals while Brandt contributed season-bests of 13 points on 5-of-5 shooting and four assists.
• Hoenninger chipped in 12 points and three assists while junior guard Alexa Petrozzino (East Hanover, N.J./Hanover Park) added a season-best 10 points.
• Aungst led a trio of double-digit scorers for Marywood with 15 points, five rebounds, and four steals while Olivia Kosin had a double-double of 10 points and 11 boards.

 
Up Next for the River Hawks

• Jan. 3 vs. Christopher Newport (7-3) – St. Mary's City, Md. / MPOBARC Arena – 6:00 p.m.

 
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