SCRANTON, Pa. – The Susquehanna University women's basketball team is in the midst of their first losing skid of the season, falling to No. 15 University of Scranton Wednesday night for their second straight loss. Susquehanna (11-5, 3-2 LC) was right there with the nationally-ranked Royals (13-3, 3-2 LC) through the first three quarters but a solid fourth gave the hosts a 59-46 victory for their third Landmark Conference win of the season.
 
Susquehanna 46, Scranton 59
 
How It Happened
First Period

• Junior guard Nevin Hoenninger (Lancaster, Pa./Lampeter-Strasburg) drained a three-pointer seven seconds in for the game's opening shot and an early 3-0 Susquehanna lead.
• The Royals used an 11-1 run to boast an 11-4 advantage at 3:50 before junior captain Erin McQuillen (Cresskill, N.J./Cresskill) knocked down a triple of her own less than 30 seconds later to pull the River Hawks within four.
• Buckets by Bridget Monaghan and Danielle McCurdy sent Scranton into the second frame with a 15-9 advantage.
• Susquehanna shot 27.3-percent from the floor but were 2-of-2 from downtown. Additionally, seven River Hawk miscues led to six points for the Royals. Scranton controlled the inside the game, 10-2.

 
Second Period

• After Lily Warhaftig extended the Royals' to eight with first basket of the second period, SU put together a 9-0 run behind six points in the paint and a triple by sophomore guard Amanda Lemire (Auburn, N.H./Pinkerton) to reclaim a one-point lead at 5:55.  
• The first half ended by Scranton outscoring the River Hawks, 7-4, for a 24-22 halftime advantage despite the River Hawks shooting 42.9-percent to the Royals' 25.0-percent.
• The bench scored seven of the hosts' nine points, including five from Monaghan.

 
Halftime

• Hoenninger and Monaghan each had nine points to lead their respective teams.
• SU shot 36.0-percent compared to the Royals' 31.3-percent while the River Hawks knocked down three three-pointers to the hosts' two.

 
Third Quarter

• The Royals stretched their lead to seven twice in the opening four minutes of the second half, including 33-26 at 6:12 behind four straight points from Sofia Recupero.
• Susquehanna continued to battle and five straight points from McQuillen had the River Hawks within 34-33 at 3:06.
• Monaghan struck again with a layup to put Scranton ahead 36-33 with less than three minutes left in the third before heading into the final frame with a 38-34 lead on a Hannah Angelini jumper.

 
Fourth Quarter

• An 8-2 start by the Royals helped them establish a double-digit margin in the first four minutes before Susquehanna responded with a 5-0 push to close the gap to 46-41 at 4:49.
• The River Hawks would get no closer as Scranton broke the game open with a 13-0 run over the next three minutes to lead by 18 at 1:37. SU went scoreless on its five possessions during that span.
• The Royals went 10-for-12 at the free throw line and shot 50.0-percent while Susquehanna shot 30.0-percent with two triples.

 
Inside the Box Score

• Scranton held the River Hawks to their lowest point total of the season as SU failed to break 50 for the first time this season.
• The Royals won the rebounding battle, 38-32, as Recupero hauled in a game-best eight boards.
• Susquehanna was accurate from distance, connecting on six of 14 attempts, while finishing with a 337.0-field goal percentage.
• Eighteen River Hawk turnovers converted into 18 points for Scranton.
• The Royals dominate the all-time series, 49-1.

 
Top Performers

• McQuillen led Susquehanna with 14 points on 5-of-8 shooting while grabbing four rebounds.
• Hoenninger finished with 11 points, four boards, and two assists.
• Sophomore forward Olivia Brandt (Bethlehem, Pa./Notre Dame) pulled down a team-best seven caroms and chipped in eight points.
• Recupero and Monaghan each tallied a game-best 15 points while Emily Sheehan added 10 points.

 
Up Next for the River Hawks

• Jan. 25 vs. Catholic (13-3, 4-1 LC) – Selinsgrove, Pa. / Orlando W. Houts Gymnasium – Alumni Day – Landmark Conference game – 4:00 p.m.

 
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