BETHLEHEM, PA (January 20, 2024) – Visiting Moravian University on Saturday afternoon as they began their second set of matchups against Landmark opponents, the Susquehanna women's basketball team put together an impressive fourth-quarter comeback effort in hostile territory but ultimately came up just short, falling 58-57 to the hosts.
After a closely fought first quarter, shooting struggles for the River Hawks aided Moravian in outscoring SU 35-25 over the second and third quarters. That effort bracketing the half time break lead Moravian to carry an 11-point lead into the fourth quarter, looking to have an easy opportunity to seal the result. But after shooting just 24 percent from the floor through the first three periods, Susquehanna jumped up to a 42 percent clip in the fourth as they rallied to close the gap.
Three made three-pointers in the period and consistent trips to the foul line helped SU outscore Moravian 22-12 in the final quarter. They would completely erase the gap, tying the game at 56 each on a pair of made free throws from Kaitlyn Lynch with 2:12 remaining. The teams would trade empty possessions before Moravian broke through with a layup at the 34 second mark, putting themselves back up by two. Lynch would again earn a trip to the foul line on the ensuing possession, but after an impressive day from the line, she was able to sink her 11th made free throw of the day but shot just long on the potential tying bucket. Forced to foul to stop the clock, Susquehanna would get a break as Moravian missed both of their foul shots at the other end, keeping the gap at a single point and giving Susquehanna the chance to hit a game-winner.
After a timeout, the River Hawks attempted to work the ball inside with just nine seconds on the clock, looking to feed Julia Roth, who continued her impressive season with a 19-point, 12-rebound double-double on the afternoon. But with the defense working hard to block the passing lane, the feed to her with the seconds ticking away put her in an awkward shooting position away from the basket and she couldn't quite get the last second layup to fall.
Lynch finished as the high-scorer on the day, tallying a season-high 20 points, including three made threes and 11 tallies from the foul line. Roth would also go nine of ten from the charity stripe as the team made a season-high 25 free throws on 31 attempts, an 80.6 percent performance.
Now 11-6 overall and 6-4 in the Landmark, the River Hawks remain in fourth place in the conference and in control of a chance to play a home playoff game in their potential return to the Landmark postseason after a seven-year absence. Their first chance to get back in the win column will come on Wednesday, January 24, as SU will host #9 Catholic at 6 pm in Selinsgrove, hoping to end the Cardinals' undefeated season.
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--RIVER HAWKS--
