Box Score
SELINSGROVE, Pa. – Susquehanna had 11 different players find the scoring column and the Crusaders defeated Lebanon Valley 65-51 in Commonwealth Conference women’s basketball action Saturday afternoon at O.W. Houts Gymnasium.
Ruth Williamson scored 13 points to lead Susquehanna (12-5, 3-3 CC), which shot 8-for-20 from 3-point range. Senior forward Monica Johnson posted 18 points and seven rebounds for Lebanon Valley (5-10, 2-4 CC), which remained winless on the road (0-7) this season.
Junior guard Donna Geiger and senor guard Allie Butler added 10 points apiece for the Flying Dutchmen.
Susquehanna used its torrid shooting to take control early. Leading 9-7, the Crusaders nailed four straight 3’s to assume a 21-8 advantage with 10:59 on the clock following Williamson’s second trey of the stretch.
LVC kept in the game by getting to the foul line, as the Valley connected on 12-of-15 free throws in the opening half. Junior guard Jenna Gambino and Johnson each made both ends of 1-and-1 opportunities to make it a five-point game (29-24) with 1:20 left. But Susquehanna used an 8-0 spurt over the final 1:03 of the period and took a 37-24 lead into the locker room. Williamson started the run with her third and final 3 of the game, and Meg Loughran followed up with a pair of free throws and a conventional three-point play.
Susquehanna shot 6-for-13 from beyond the arc in the first half, with Williamson leading the way with 11 points. Johnson went 8-for-11 from the foul line and led LVC with 10 points at the intermission.
The Crusaders continued their surge in the second half, using a 17-6 run to open up its biggest lead of the game (54-30) following a Val Houseal 3-pointer with 11:02 on the clock.
LVC cut the deficit in half (60-48) after a late 18-6 run, capped by a Geiger jumper in the paint, but could get no closer.
The Dutchmen return to the court on Wednesday, when they host Juniata College in a Commonwealth Conference contest starting at 6 p.m.
[Photo - Senior forward Monica Johnson, who had 18 points and seven rebounds against Susquehanna on Saturday]
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