SELINSGROVE, PA - The Susquehanna University Women's Basketball team fell to the Elizabethtown College Blue Jays in their first Landmark Conference contest on the season, losing 71-65. Erin McQuillen was the River Hawks leading scorer, as the senior guard knocked in three three-pointers for a career-high 27 points, also adding four rebounds.
 
In the first quarter, the River Hawks were neck and neck with Elizabethtown until the Blue Jays went on a nine-point run to propel the score to 11-19 with 3:31 left in the first quarter. Amanda Lemire tried shifting the momentum to the River Hawks as Susquehanna followed with two more shots in the paint in an effort to push past the Blue Jays. Susquehanna struggled to control the ball and on defense, causing three fouls with two shooting fouls turning into two additional points for Elizabethtown. The Blue Jays were up 26-18 at the end of the first quarter.

Six personal fouls in the second quarter made it difficult to surpass Elizabethtown College's lead, outscoring the Blue Jays 18-14 in the period, before the Blue Jays pulled away to a 40-36 halftime lead. The River Hawks were able to stay within striking distance of their opposition thanks to a strong display from the free throw line, as they knocked down three of four attempts in the quarter. 

Susquehanna was able to pull within three points in the third quarter, as McQuillen put up 10-points only missing one layup for the River Hawks. Elizabethtown put up a strong defense and a strong offense including hitting all five free throws at the line. The teams were tied at 53-53 after a layup by Olivia Brandt with 2:35 left in the quarter. The Blue Jays pushed forward pulling back a three-point lead heading into the fourth quarter.

The fourth quarter was a strong fight for Susquehanna, yet the River Hawks were not able to take the lead with the remaining time left in the game. In the first half of the quarter, Susquehanna pushed the offense with an immediate jumper in the paint by Olivia Ciullo. Elizabethtown posted a solid offense with a three-pointer made by Emily Prowell in the first minute of the period and all four free throws found their way to the net in the quarter. The Blue Jays would not allow Susquehanna to score in the final minute of the game holding them to 65 points and handing them their second loss of the season.

Lemire had a three-pointer for 11 points, adding three assists and three rebounds. Amalia Esposito notched eight points and seven rebounds and Kaitlyn Lynch added seven points and two rebounds to the River Hawks showing. The defense held Elizabethtown to a 25.0% field goal percentage in the third quarter and a 29.41% in the fourth quarter. They forced 11 turnovers as well, which the offense was able to turn into nine River Hawk points. 

Up Next

• The River Hawks will host the Lancaster Bible College Chargers in Orlando W. Houts Gymnasium on Wednesday, December 8th, at 5:30 p.m. for a non-conference matchup. Susquehanna won their first-ever meeting with the Chargers back in January of 2020, winning 69-45. 

Facebook: susquehanna.riverhawks | Instagram: @gosusqu
Twitter: @GOsusqU | Hashtags: #AllIn, #GOSU, #RiverHawkPride
 

--RIVER HAWKS--