SELINSGROVE, PA (November 5, 2021) -- Senior Olivia Brandt posted a double-double with career-highs of 21 points and 11 rebounds, as the Susquehanna University women's basketball returned to action for the first time in 622 days with a season-opening 65-41 win over Johns Hopkins University in non-conference action from O.W. Houts Gymnasium Friday evening. 

Susquehanna (1-0) hadn't taken the court since knocking off Juniata College 68-61 back on February 22, 2020, but the layoff certainly didn't affect the River Hawks ability to guard as SU held its visitors to 23.2 percent (16-69) shooting on the night including 4-of-20 from downtown. That defensive effort is what ended up being the difference, as Hopkins was held under 10 points in each of the final three quarters. 

The host River Hawks came out quick, opening the game on an 8-2 run capped by a pair of free throws by Brandt, but Johns Hopkins (0-1) stormed back with a 10-0 run to take and hold the lead going to the second quarter at 15-10. The Blue Jays continued to lead until Kaitlyn Lynch nailed a triple to make it 18-all with 6:56 to play in the opening half. Down 30-28, Susquehanna went on a 12-0 spurt with Lynch scoring five of those points to take a 30-20 advantage before holding a 34-24 edge at the break. 

After halftime, the River Hawks really put the clamps down on defense, holding the Blue Jays to just six made buckets over the last 20 minutes. The key sequence in the contest was right out of the halftime gate, as SU went on a 8-0 run finished by a Brandt three-pointer to force a Hopkins timeout. Susquehanna would then grow its lead all the way up to 24 points just before the final buzzer as its cruised to its first win over the 2021-22 campaign. 

Brandt got to her career high of 21 points on 8-of-19 shooting for her first career double-double. Her previous personal-high for points was in her last game played, that victory over Juniata back two seasons ago. Senior Erin McQuillen tallied 16 points as well, grabbing a team-best 12 rebounds which was one shy of her personal best. Lynch came off the bench to register 13 points on 5-of-9 shooting including hitting on two of her four three-pointers, and Amalia Esposito logged nine points and 10 caroms as well. SU shot 36.2 percent (25-69) form the floor on the evening, but won the rebounding battle 55-46 as everyone that played picked up a board. 

Johns Hopkins was led by Diarra Oden and Natalie Mann, both of whom tallied nine points in the loss. Jaydn Murray also tallied eight points and a team-leading nine rebounds as JHU missed 13 of its last 14 field goals as well as connecting on only one of its last 15 three-point attempts. 

Up Next

• The River Hawks will welcome Stevens Institute of Technology to town Wednesday, November 10 at 7 p.m. in more non-conference action from O.W. Houts Gymnasium. 

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