By Kirsten Hatton Staff writer
The Susquehanna women’s basketball team suffered a tough 53-46 loss to conference-foe Elizabethtown in its regular season finale on Feb. 18.
The team was already eliminated from playof contention following a loss to Scranton on Feb. 15.
This was the second time the two teams met this season. The River Hawks fell 78-53 to the Blue Jays in their Jan. 14 meeting.
Sophomore guard Bailey Trell knocked down a jumper to put Susquehanna ahead 44-43 with less than five minutes to go in the game, but the River Hawks were unable to hold on for the win.
Sophomore guard Maddie Murray led the River Hawks in scoring with 10 points in the contest.
Junior forward Courtney Adams led the team with 13 rebounds and five assists.
The River Hawks remained scoreless until Adams scored two minutes into the first quarter.
Freshman guard Janine Conway added a three-pointer and Murray converted both free-throw opportunities as the River Hawks led 11-10 at the end of the first quarter.
The second quarter continued to be a battle for both teams. Junior guard Tess Nichols made a layup with 10 seconds remaining in the second quarter to tie up the game 27-27 at half.
The second half started off with a steal by Adams which gave the River Hawks momentum.
Nichols made a layup to put the River Hawks up by two. Freshman guard Rachel Sweger made a three and Murray converted another two points in the paint.
The fourth quarter began with Murray going 1 for 2 at the foul line and Sweger answering a Blue Jays’ basket with a three-pointer.
After a back and forth game, the Blue Jays pulled away late.
With three minutes remaining in the game, Elizabethtown pulled ahead 47- 44. They finished the game on a 6-2 run to push past the River Hawks. Elizabethtown finished with a record of 18-6 and 8-6 in the Landmark Conference.
Nichols scored 10 points while Sweger scored nine. Other contributors included Conway who scored five points off the bench.
Ball security was an issue for both teams, with the River Hawks turning the ball over 18 times and Elizabethtown 16 times.
Susquehanna could not capitalize on the turnovers, only mustering seven points off the Blue Jays’ errors.
This is the first time since the 2013-2014 season that the River Hawks will not be in playoff contention. In 25 games this season, the team averaged 60 points and 40 rebounds per game.
The River Hawks finish their season with a 14-11 record and a 5-9 mark in the Landmark Conference.