ST. MARY'S CITY, Md. – Juniors Erin McQuillen (Cresskill, N.J./Cresskill) and Alexa Petrozzino (East Hanover, N.J./Hanover Park) combined for 25 points in leading the Susquehanna University women's basketball team to a win at the St. Mary's College of Maryland New Year's Classic Saturday evening. Susquehanna (8-3) returned to the win column with a 58-46 non-conference win over the host St. Mary's Seahawks (3-8).
 
Susquehanna 58, St. Mary's (Md.) 46
 
How It Happened
First Quarter

• After St. Mary's missed its first two shots of the game, McQuillen scored the first bucket for a 3-0 lead 32 seconds in.
• Cameron Mangold's 1-of-2 effort from the free throw line at 6:40 capped a quick 5-1 spurt, giving the Seahawks their first and only lead of the game.
• Susquehanna distanced itself by ending the first period on an 11-2 run to head into the second frame with a 15-6 lead. Fueling the run was four points by sophomore Amalia Esposito (Coraopolis, Pa./Montour) and the team's 7-of-10 showing at the charity stripe.

 
Second Quarter

• The Seahawks pulled within 15-10 at 8:44 on a Caitlin Mays layup but would get no closer as Susquehanna was able to stretch its lead into a double-digit margin with a 10-4 run to post its biggest lead of the half, 25-14, at 1:54 following a pair of free throws by first-year forward Isabella Schwabe (Hazleton, Pa./Marian Catholic).
• A pair of McQuillen free throws and a Kelli Jenkins triple sent the River Hawks into the locker room with a 28-17 advantage.

 
Halftime

• Offensive rhythm was a tough find for either team in the first 20 minutes as neither squad shot better than 22-percent with SU holding the better percentage at 21.4-percent over the hosts' 14.7-percent.
• The River Hawks outrebounded St. Mary's, 36-18, in the first half as McQuillen and junior guard Nevin Hoenninger (Lancaster, Pa./Lampeter-Strasburg) combined for 11 boards.
• McQuillen tallied eight points to lead all scorers while Mangold and Gina Seifert each had four to pace the Seahawks.

 
Third Quarter

• The two sides were point-for-point in the first five minutes as Susquehanna maintained its 11-point lead at 5:21 on a McQuillen layup.
• St. Mary's used a 9-4 run to cut the deficit to 39-33 with under a minute to go as Ashleigh Bonanno capped it with a layup.
• Senior captain Rachel Sweger (Elizabethtown, Pa./Elizabethtown) made two free throws to setup the River Hawks with a 41-33 lead heading into the fourth.

 
Fourth Quarter

• After Kyaira Priest's fast-break layup at 9:39, Susquehanna and St. Mary's fell into a scoring lull that lasted for over three minutes until Seifert had a fast-break layup of her own, putting the Seahawks within four (41-37).
• Petrozzino ended the River Hawks field goal drought at 5:10, marking SU's first basket since sophomore guard Sadie Comfort's (Pottsville, Pa./Pottsville) three-ball at the 3:14-minute mark of the third quarter and giving her team a 45-37 lead.
• Seifert had St. Mary's within four once again at 4:27 but Susquehanna outscored the hosts, 13-5, the rest of the way to lock up the win with Petrozzino (5 points) and sophomore guard Olivia Brandt (Bethlehem, Pa./Notre Dame) combining for nine points.

 
Inside the Box Score

• Susquehanna grabbed a season-best 68 rebounds as the River Hawks posted a +29 rebounding margin over St. Mary's.
• SU also went to the free throw line a season-best 34 times, registering a 70.6-free throw percentage (24-for-34).
• The Seahawks owned the advantage in the paint, edging the visitors, 28-16, and forced the River Hawks into 28 turnovers but only managed 12 points off those miscues.
• Susquehanna is now 2-1 all-time against the Seahawks. St. Mary's earned a 50-47 win on its home court in the last meeting on December 30, 2011.

 
Top Performers

• McQuillen recorded her first career double-double with a game-high 13 points and season-best 11 rebounds. She also added three steals and two assists. Her performance this weekend landed her on the All-Tournament Team.
• Petrozzino contributed a career-best 12 points while chipping in four boards.
• Seifert led the Seahawks with a double-double of her own on a game-best 13 rebounds and team-best 12 points.

 
Up Next for the River Hawks

• Jan. 8 at Lancaster Bible (1-7) – Lancaster, Pa. / Horst Athletic Center – 7:00 p.m.

 
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