BALTIMORE, MD – Two months after dropping their first 100-point game in nearly a quarter century against Goucher, the River Hawks put up their third-highest point total of the season Wednesday night in another 78-48 handling of the Gophers on the road. Susquehanna's first Landmark Conference season sweep puts them at 13-7 overall and 8-5 in league play, maintaining their fourth-place standing and now holding a two-game lead over fifth-place Drew and sixth-place Moravian.
The Gouchers put up a fight to start off with hot shooting from behind the perimeter with seven made threes in the opening half. This led to a 16-10 lead in the first seven minutes. The River Hawks' rebuttal to their hosts' opening statement included closing the quarter out with a 10-0 run for a 20-16 lead. The Gophers continued to hammer away keeping a close tab on Susquehanna, briefly regaining a pair of one-point leads to start the second. Both times the River Hawks retaliated with the next basket, eventually building their lead back up to eight before the half's conclusion at 37-29.
Coming off a D3hoops.com Team of the Week honor,
Julia Roth did not relent, continuing to put up big numbers and netting the first six second-half points as SU opened with a 14-0 run, highlighted by threes from
Kenzie Selvaggi, her first of the night, and
Kaitlyn Lynch. The Gophers eventually got on the board, but it did little to hinder a dominating third quarter that saw the River Hawks outscore the blue and gold 28-10.
Roth finished the night with 25 points, officially making her the Landmark Conference's leading scorer at 16.9 points per game. Her night included making one three, the second of her career, and posting 11-of-19 from the field with a perfect 2-for-2 touch at the free throw line, along with eight rebounds and three steals. She currently is second in the Landmark with 9.2 rebounds per game. First-year Zoei Maffei had a career performance with 14 points and 13 rebounds, while dishing out four assists in 17 minutes off the bench.
Kaitlyn Lynch delivered 16 points, making 2-of-3 from long range with four assists and a pair of blocks.
Carly George flirted with a double-double with eight points and nine rebounds.
33 of Goucher's 48 points came of threes in an 11-of-28 display compared to Susquehanna's 4-of-22. The River Hawks led nearly every other category tonight, including a staggering 65-27 lead on the boards that included 25 offensive rebounds and 30 second-chance points. SU also held a 12-0 advantage in fast break points and another disparity with a 52-6 lead in points in the paint, as well as a 24-3 lead in bench points. The River Hawks made 40.0 percent in field goals (32-80) to Goucher's 29.0 (18-62) and made 10-of-11 free throws to the Gophers' 1-of-4.
Susquehanna continues its road trip this Saturday for another season sweep attempt at Wilkes at 4 p.m.
