BETHLEHEM, PA (January 26, 2022) -- Host Moravian University outscored the Susquehanna University women's basketball team by 10 in the fourth quarter, pulling away for a 74-63 Landmark Conference victory in action from Johnston Hall Wednesday evening. 

The River Hawks (10-7, 2-5 Landmark) put four players in double figures, including senior Bethlehem, PA native Olivia Brandt, who scored 16 points to go with seven rebounds, three assists, two blocks and a steal. The difference in the game though came at the free throw line, as Moravian (5-12, 3-3 Landmark) went 17-of-19 at the line for the night while SU shot it well at the stripe but didn't have the attempts to match going 9-of-12. 

Susquehanna charged out quick on the road, scoring the first six points of the contest but Moravian responded to take the lead with 3:38 to play in the first quarter on free throws by Madison Amy. The two teams traded buckets over the remainder of the first quarter, with the Greyhounds leading 18-17 after the first 10 minutes. Senior Kaitlyn Lynch was 3-for-3 in the first quarter for SU, notching seven points. 

Moravian grew its lead up to five points early in the second quarter, but SU stormed right back as the two teams exchanged the lead five times in the second stanza. The River Hawks chalked up their largest lead of five in the second quarter after a layup by Brandt with just under a minute to play in the half, but free throws by Amy made it a 34-31 lead for Susquehanna at the break. 

After the intermission, Moravian quickly used an 8-2 run to grab the lead back, holding a small edge through most of the quarter until a layup by graduate student Erin McQuillen put SU back in charge at 46-45 with 1:23 to go in the third. On the next possession, Amy hit a jumper for the Greyhounds to push back in front going to the fourth quarter. 

In the fourth quarter, the action was non-stop and nip-and-tuck the whole way, as a trifecta from McQuillen tied the game at 51 with eight minutes left. MU drilled a triple on its next possession, but senior guard Amanda Lemire's traditional three-point play knotted the game up at 54. The Greyhounds over the next few minutes would go on a mini 6-1 spurt to take a five-point edge, but once again SU responded as Brandt was fouled on a three-pointer with 4:11 to go, making all three freebies to make it a 60-58 game. 

Moravian continued to lead by just one possession but a 6-0 run over a two-minute stretch gave the 'Hounds a 68-61 advantage. MU pulled away late thanks to 70 percent shooting in the fourth quarter, going for 27 points while making 7-of-8 at the line to clinch the win. 

McQuillen finished 5-of-12 from the floor and 2-of-3 from behind the arc for 12 points, adding six rebounds and four steals, a season-high for thefts. Lynch added 11 points and five rebounds, with Amalia Esposito hitting all four of her shots for 10 points. Lemire also contributed nine points and a team-high six assists on the night. SU finished with a 38-28 edge in points in the paint, but was out-rebounded 41-24 on the night. 

MU was paced by Kayla Yoegel, who finished with a game-high 33 points on 12-of-21 shooting, also pulling down eight rebounds. Amy tallied 15 points as well for the Greyhounds, which shot 60 percent (15-25) in the second half. 

Up Next

• The River Hawks will be back on the road on Saturday, traveling to our nation's capital to take on No. 18/25 Catholic University in Landmark Conference play in Washington, DC at 4 p.m. 

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