Strong Finish Carries Crusaders Past Drew

SELINSGROVE, Pa. - In a conference game that was knotted on nine various occasions during the first 28 minutes of play, Susquehanna fought strong in the final 12 to capture a 66-57 women's basketball win in the O.W. Houts Gymnasium.

The Crusaders (9-6, 2-2 LC) fell behind 5-0 in the opening three minutes, but followed up with a 10-0 run topped off by a three point play by leading Susquehanna scorer Rachel Hughes (Gordon, Pa./North Schuylkill).

The Rangers responded by drilling seven points of their own which led to a back-and-forth stretch of play. Senior guard Allison Hartnett buried a three in the final seconds of the first stint to give the visiting Rangers a 28-24 lead at the half.

Fresh out of the locker room, Susquehanna inbounded the ball to find Val Houseal (Harleysville, Pa./Souderton) for a pair of her 14 total points. After a couple back-to-back baskets, Houseal would strike again to tie the game for the eighth time which led to a dominating Crusader conclusion.

At 12:22, a good jumper from Jessica Reid to tie the game at 37 apiece proved to be the Rangers' final grasp at the lead.

Susquehanna pulled away in the final quarter of play to lead by as many as 10 points when freshman point-guard Erika Barron (Tamaqua, Pa./Tamaqua Area) hit a three off a Hughes assist. The Crusaders swished five from the charity stripe to close out the Landmark match up with a 66-57 win.

Hartnett dominated the scoreboard with 30 points and eight boards for her Rangers, while Hughes came off the bench to lead the Crusaders with 18 as Houseal followed with 14. Nearing double-doubles, Barron sunk 13 points and pulled down eight rebounds while senior Bri McNallen scored nine and grabbed 11 boards.

The Rangers edged Susquehanna with a 46-41 percent shooting margin; however 22 Ranger turnovers allowed for 17 orange and maroon points in comparison to Drew's 6 points off of Susquehanna's 16 turnovers.