Photo(s) taken by Annie J. Vogt. and Michael Mandigo
by Maddy Lanning, Staff Writer
The Susquehanna women’s basketball team fell 62-61 Wednesday, Feb. 5 to Landmark Conference-rival the University of Scranton.
In the first quarter, Susquehanna opened up with a strong start, jumping ahead 17-11 after sinking four three-pointers, two of which came from sophomore forward Olivia Brandt.
The Royals then answered by scoring the last seven points of the period, putting them up 18-17 going into the second. Susquehanna found luck during the first period, having scored most of their points off Royals’ turnovers.
In the second period the lead changed eight times and the score was tied up three times. Sophomore guard Sadie Comfort scored back-to-back triples that tied up the game at 26. Comfort had nine points the rest of the quarter, all of which were scored from behind the three-point line.
As the game headed into halftime, the Royals held a slight 32-31 lead.
The Royals opened up the half by extending their lead to 48-38. Junior guard Erin McQuillen closed the gap a bit for the River Hawks, but the Royals maintained their lead throughout the rest of the quarter and into the last period.
Comfort and McQuillen then scored triples, leading Susquehanna to regain the lead with two minutes to go. McQuillen got tied up for a jump ball but it would be called in Scranton’s favor, leaving time to expire and the Royals to come out on top.
“Games like this are what make the sport exciting, but we have to work harder,” McQuillen said.
After the tough loss, the team returned home and scored an 81-73 victory over Elizabethtown on Saturday, Feb. 8 in Selinsgrove, Pa.
In the first period, Elizabethtown led for quite a while before the River Hawks found their groove. Many Blue Jay points this period were on account of Susquehanna’s turnovers.
Leading 21-17 going into the second, the Blue Jays began losing steam and Susquehanna pulled ahead with key jumpers from junior guard Alexa Petrozzino and McQuillen.
After this, both sides had trouble making a basket for a while until Brandt sunk one just before the half- time buzzer.
Coming out of the gate strong in the second half, Elizabethtown was able to pull ahead by a margin of 52-44. McQuillen and Brandt didn’t let this last long though as the two combined to sink three three-pointers, cutting the score down by a deficit of one. This sent the Blue Jays into the final period ahead 56-55.
Comfort started a 13-2 run for the River Hawks with a three-pointer early in the last period. With less than a minute to go, the Blue Jays pulled within three, but junior forward Madi Welliver hit a shot that put the River Hawks ahead 75-70.
The Blue Jays were only allowed one more basket and Brandt would seal the deal by stealing the ball and sinking a layup just as time expired.
“This was a very big game and a needed win for us,” Comfort said. “We just need the next four to give a good shot in the playoffs.”
The River Hawks will return to action against Catholic on the road on Saturday, Feb. 15 in Washington DC.
