SELINSGROVE, PA – Maintaining a healthy fourth-place moniker in the Landmark Conference standings was just as important as the Susquehanna women's basketball team defeating Wilkes University Saturday at home in Houts Gymnasium. The River Hawks took nothing for granted against the winless Colonels, playing their usual style of play that saw them pull away in the second half towards an impressive 87-69 victory.

SU's style of play was consistent in many regards, including Julia Pinckert holding down her role as primary caregiver in points production by setting a new school record with 12 assists in one game. She also moved up the career assists ladder in a tie for ninth all-time with 276. Additionally, she contributed five points and six rebounds, all defensive.

Both sides were neck and neck to start out. Susquehanna held several leads which were met by Wilkes going on runs to keep things close. The score read 36-36 near the end of the first half, but an opportunistic SU defense forced a turnover with about five seconds left. Sydney Weyant dribbled the length of the court to get an and-one basket with 0.3 seconds on the clock, giving the River Hawks a boost leading 38-36 at the break.

Much like its Wednesday-night affair against Goucher, Susquehanna pulled away in the second half, creating as big as an 22-point cushion. Though the Colonels kept at it by reducing the River Hawks' lead to three late in the third quarter, Susquehanna maintained its hold on the game, aided by more and-one opportunities. Wilkes' Yamirelis Matos bested all scorers with 28 markers on the day, though Susquehanna held on by controlling the game in the paint with a 52-34 lead in rebounds and 56-26 in points in the paint. Zoie Maffei and Carly George each had a day with double-doubles, both collecting 14 points and 14 rebounds.

Lauren Klein made 19 points to lead the River Hawks, adding three assists and one three to the mix, while Kenzie Selvaggi made a pair of threes on her way to 16 points. Weyant worked her way up to 14 points off a great day from the floor, making 6-of-8 and 2-of-4 from long range. Overall Susquehanna made 50.7 percent for the afternoon, shooting 34-of-67, making 6-of-24 threes and 13-of-19 on free throws in an and-one latent day, compared to Wilkes managing 32. percent on 22-of-68 with 8-of-31 on 3-pointers and 17-of-20 from the line.

Head coach Gabby Holko's team holds sole possession of fourth place in the Landmark Conference standings for another game. Ahead of them are nationally-ranked and respective Scranton, Elizabethtown, and Catholic, with Drew one game behind SU in fifth place as of Saturday afternoon. The River Hawks look to maintain their position that affords them a home Landmark Quarterfinals game with four regular-season contests to go, starting at Lycoming on Wednesday at 7 p.m. After next Saturday's road trip to first-place Scranton, they will host the last two games against Juniata Wednesday, Feb. 19 and Drew Saturday, Feb. 22.