SELINSGROVE, Pa. – Makenzie Mason hit the game-winning layup with 0.9 seconds on the clock to lift the No. 14/17 University of Scranton to a 62-61 Landmark Conference road win over the Susquehanna University women's basketball team. Susquehanna (12-8, 4-5 LC) was up 61-58 with 2:02 left in the game after overcoming a 12-point deficit but could not take down the Royals (17-3, 7-2 LC) for the upset win Wednesday night.
 
Tonight's loss puts the River Hawks in a two-way tie for fifth in the Landmark standings with Drew University.
 
Susquehanna 61, Scranton 62
 
How It Happened
First Period

• After Mason netted the opening bucket of the game, Susquehanna rolled out to a 17-11 advantage at 1:55 as the River Hawks sank four three-pointers, including a pair from sophomore forward Olivia Brandt (Bethlehem, Pa./Notre Dame).
• The Royals responded by scoring the last seven points of the first 10 minutes, including five straight by Bridget Monaghan to give her squad an 18-17 lead.
• Mason and Monaghan led all players with eight points each in the first frame while Scranton outrebounded SU, 11-4, and shot 50-percent from the field.
• Eight of Susquehanna's 17 points came off of five Royal miscues.

 
Second Period

• The second frame featured eight lead changes and three tied scores.
• Scranton opened up with an 8-3 run to turn a one-point lead into a 26-20 advantage at 7:03.
• Sophomore guard Sadie Comfort (Pottsville, Pa./Pottsville) scored back-to-back triples to even up the game at 26-all at 5:28. Comfort would finish the stanza with nine points on 3-of-4 from downtown.
• The Royals secured a 38-34 halftime lead after turning a 32-31 deficit by scoring seven of the final nine points, including an Emily Sheehan three-pointer to lock up the four-point advantage.
• Scranton continued to shot at 50-percent and better, finishing the second period with a 53.3-field goal percentage.

 
Halftime

• Mason led all players at the break with 14 points on 5-of-6 shooting while Monaghan contributed 13 on 5-of-7 shooting in the first half.
• The Royals won the battle of the glass by a 17-12 margin as Sofia Recupero grabbed five boards.
• Susquehanna made it rain in the first half, hitting 7-of-12 (58.3%) three-pointers with four coming off the hands of Comfort, who led the way with 12 points.

 
Third Period

• The visitors stretched their margin to 48-38 with a 10-4 run to start the second half as Sofia Recupero contributed four points.
• Back-to-back buckets by junior captain Erin McQuillen (Cresskill, N.J./Cresskill) closed the gap to 48-42 with 2:09 remaining in the third but Susquehanna missed its next two shots and turned the ball over once, allowing the Royals to take a 51-42 lead into the final frame.

 
Fourth Period

• Monaghan hit a fourth-quarter opening three-ball to extend Scranton's lead to 12 at 9:28 before the River Hawks mounted their comeback.
• Susquehanna went 11-for-12 at the free throw line while Comfort and McQuillen each drained key triples to retake a 61-58 advantage at 2:02.
• During SU's 19-4 run, the River Hawk defense limited Scranton to 1-of-8 from the field, including missing all five three-point attempts, and forced two turnovers.
• Each side missed a three-point attempt before Mason pulled the Royals within one at 1:03.
• McQuillen grabbed a defensive rebound but a jump ball was called and with the possession arrow in Scranton's favor, the Royals got the ball back with 6.6 ticks on the clock.
• Mason hit the game-winner with 0.9 seconds off a Monaghan assist.
• Susquehanna's three-point attempt as time expired was wide left.

 
Inside the Box Score

• For the fourth time this season, the River Hawks shot 50-percent or higher from distance as SU hit 9-of-18 three-pointers tonight.
• Susquehanna went 16-for-19 at the charity line to stay on the heels of the Royals while gaining the advantage on the boards with a 32-28 margin.
• Scranton dominated the paint by a 30-14 margin and finished the night shooting 42.9-percent from the field.
• The Royals are now 50-1 all-time against Susquehanna.

 
Top Performers

• Comfort paced the River Hawks with career-bests of 17 points, six field goals made and five three-pointers while adding four rebounds.
• Sophomore Amalia Esposito (Coraopolis, Pa./Montour) contributed 15 points as Esposito went 7-of-9 at the line while chipping in six boards and three assists.
• McQuillen and junior guard Nevin Hoenninger (Lancaster, Pa./Lampeter-Strasburg) each posted 10 points to round out the four starters who scored in double digits.
• Mason and Monaghan both finished the night with a game-best 18 points in Scranton's fifth consecutive victory.

 
Up Next for the River Hawks

• Feb. 8 vs. Elizabethtown (10-9, 6-3 LC) – Selinsgrove, Pa. / Orlando W. Houts Gymnasium – Pink Day – Landmark Conference game – 4:00 p.m.

 
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