SCRANTON, PA – Carrying a four-game win streak into the Electric City on Saturday, Susquehanna Women's Basketball were tasked with diffusing league-leading, fifth-ranked Scranton in John Long Arena. The Royals, coming off a Landmark loss on Wednesday to fellow top-25 dweller Elizabethtown, were unable to shake the River Hawks in the early going, clinging to a 22-20 lead halfway through the second quarter. Scranton began to pull ahead to close out the half ahead 31-22 at the break, then cranked their lead up to double digits in the second half for a 53-36 win. The River Hawks held the Royals to their lowest point total of the season. 

Forwards Carly George and Julia Roth stormed out of the gate early, combining for 14 of SU's 22 first-half points, with George nine and Roth five. Behind just 12-8 after the first quarter, Julia Pinckert opened the second period with a three to make it a one-point game. While Scranton's Kaci Kranson answered with a three as Scranton pulled ahead 20-14, the River Hawks retaliated with a 6-2 run to get back in the game at 22-20. A few empty possessions followed before the Royals' Hannah Angelini broke the minute-and-a-half silence drawing a foul and an and-one layup, completing the three-point play to lead 25-20. Susquehanna, who finished the afternoon 12-of-22 from the free throw line, made just 3-of-10 at the line in the first half, which perhaps held them back from closing in on the Royals as Scranton took a nine-point lead into the break.

Scranton continued its run in the second half, utilizing stifling defense that forced the River Hawks into 20 turnovers, which they cashed in for 16 points. Susquehanna led the rebounding battle 40-36 and outshot the Royals making 34.0 percent (16-47) to the hosts' 31.7 (19-60). Scranton made 4-of-14 from 3-point range and 16-of-22 free throws to Susquehanna's respective 2-of-10 and 12-of-22 for a 10-point swing, as well as Scranton netting an 11-0 lead in bench points.

George garnered a double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds. Roth and Kaitlyn Lynch each finished with 13 points, with Roth nearly at a double-double with nine rebounds and Lynch with six. Lynch made nine of SU's 12 free throws on a dozen attempts. Pinckert, who finished with five points, and Kenzie Selvaggi, who had three points, were responsible for each of the team's two 3-pointers.

The River Hawks make another northern trip this Tuesday for a Landmark matchup at Lycoming at 7 p.m. At 8-5 overall and 3-3 in the Landmark, all three of Susquehanna's defeats came at the hands of top-25 conference foes Catholic, Elizabethtown, and Scranton. Lycoming currently stands at 8-4 and 2-3, respectively, with a Landmark matchup versus Moravian Sunday evening standing between them and Tuesday's game with the River Hawks.