ASTON, Pa. – Sophomore Amalia Esposito (Coraopolis, Pa./Montour) recorded her first career double-double Tuesday night as the Susquehanna University women's basketball team rolled to their fifth consecutive victory and first road win of the 2019-20 season. Susquehanna (5-1) tallied a 74-43 non-conference win over Neumann University (3-4), handing the Knights their second loss in a row.
 
Tonight's win has the River Hawks enjoying their best six-game start since the 2017-18 campaign when Susquehanna tipped-off the season with a 5-1 record.
 
Susquehanna 74, Neumann 43
 
How It Happened
First Quarter

• Each side knocked down a three-ball in the first two minutes before Susquehanna distanced themselves from the host Knights with a 15-0 run over the next five minutes to lead 18-3 at 2:59. Five different River Hawks scored in the run with junior captain Erin McQuillen (Cresskill, N.J./Cresskill) leading the way with five points.
• Neumann went 0-for-8, including missing two three-pointers, during SU's big run until back-to-back triples from Lauren Leicht and Chelsea Keebler snapped the Knights' nearly 6:30-minute long scoreless drought.
• Susquehanna owned an 18-10 advantage after Neumann closed out the first quarter on a 7-0 run.

 
Second Quarter

• Terea Hunt hit the first bucket of the second period to pull NU within six but the Knights would not get any closer as the River Hawks used an 8-0 run to establish a double-digit lead and led by as many as 15 with 1:03 left in the first half.
• Neumann outscored the visitors, 12-9, over the final seven minutes to send the River Hawks into the locker room with a 35-24 halftime lead.

 
Third Quarter

• Susquehanna's third quarter effort put the game away as the River Hawks outscored the Knights, 23-9, behind 11 points and six rebounds, including five defensive boards, from Esposito.
• The SU defense played its part by limiting Neumann to just 2-of-16 from the field, including 1-of-8 from downtown.

 
Fourth Quarter

• The River Hawks bench notched 10 of the team's 16 points in the final 10 minutes, including four from junior guard Alexa Petrozzino (East Hanover, Pa./Hanover Park).

 
Inside the Box Score

• Susquehanna grabbed a season-best 53 rebounds, including matching a season-high with 41 defensive boards, and outrebounded the Knights, 53-32.
• The River Hawks were 19-of-22 from the free throw line for a season-best .864 free throw percentage.
• Neumann shot 4-of-27 (.148) from behind the three-point line for the game.
• Susquehanna is now 3-2 all-time against the Knights.

 
Top Performers

• Esposito tallied career-bests of 17 points and 14 rebounds for her first career double-double. She was 5-of-11 from the field and 6-of-6 from the charity stripe.
• Sophomore forward Olivia Brandt (Bethlehem, Pa./Notre Dame) contributed a season-high 10 points on 4-of-7 shooting.
• McQuillen and Petrozzino both finished with nine points while junior guard Nevin Hoenninger (Lancaster, Pa./Lampeter-Strasburg) chipped in six caroms and four assists.
• Tierra Harris was the only Knight in double figures with 13 points on 5-of-7 shooting and a team-best seven boards.

 
Up Next for the River Hawks

• Dec. 7 at Juniata (2-4) – Huntingdon, Pa./ Memorial Gymnasium – Landmark Conference opener – 4:00 p.m.

 
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