SELINSGROVE, PA (November 16, 2022) – The Susquehanna University women's basketball team faced off against Lebanon Valley College in their 2022-23 home opener on Wednesday evening, coming off a road victory over King's College to start the season. The River Hawks battled hard with LVC, but ultimately would suffer their first defeat of the season, falling 62-48.

SU started well, putting up 18 points in the first quarter to take an early lead. They managed a strong 8 for 17 performance from the field in the frame, leading by as many as six points in the opening minutes. But Lebanon Valley would claw their way back, converting an and-one play with two minutes left to claim a 12-11 lead. SU fought back with three layups and a made free throw in the last two minutes to take an 18-14 lead into the second quarter.

After not making any in the first quarter, Lebanon Valley, a team that relies heavily on scoring from beyond the arc, made their first in the second quarter and continued to trend upward in the category as they grabbed the lead. The River Hawks also had just eight points in the second quarter, giving LVC a chance to find their shooting range, match their total of 14 points in the first quarter, and take a 28-26 lead into halftime with a late six-point run in the last 1:39 of the first half.

LVC would return to the court in the second half with a clear goal of getting more shots from beyond the arc and did so well, putting up seven attempts in the quarter and making four of them, putting the pressure on an SU offense that wasn't able to match the Dutchmen's three-point shooting. Susquehanna would go 1 for 8 from long range in the quarter, scoring just ten points in the quarter while LVC had their best offensive output of 22 in the frame. Lebanon Valley's lead stretched as far as 16 points on two different occasions in the quarter, while SU first-year guard Julia Pinckert did her best to will the offense forward, scoring five of the River Hawks' ten points in the quarter.

Trailing 50-36 at the start of the fourth quarter, SU began a gritty comeback effort, closing the gap to a 50-44 score and holding LVC scoreless for the first five and a half minutes in the quarter. At the 4:15 mark, Pinckert made a three-pointer to make the score 52-47, but that was the final made field goal for SU, as LVC responded with a two-point jumper, two made three-pointers, and two free throws to re-extend their lead and ice the game. A made free throw from Kaitlyn Lynch was the final point for SU, coming at the 2:38 mark.

Bench points and second chance buckets proved to be some of the more significant advantages for LVC, as their bench scored 14 to SU's 9, and had 14 second chance points to Susquehanna's 6. Pinckert continued her hot start to her collegiate career, tallying 18 points and coming up just short of a double-double with nine rebounds. Lynch would be the other double-digit scorer, putting up ten points and adding three rebounds and an assist. Kenzie Selvaggi and Vanessa Sabol tied for the team lead with two assists each.

SU will get to remain at home and try to get their first win of the season in O.W. Houts Gymnasium on Saturday, November 19, as they host the National Beef Tip-Off Tournament and will play in the opening game at 6 pm against Gallaudet University. The other two participating teams, Cabrini University and Misericordia University, will face off at 8 pm. The losers of each game will face off at 1 pm the next day while the winners play at 3 pm.

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--RIVER HAWKS--