Box Score

ANNVILLE, Pa. – Susquehanna University outscored Lebanon Valley 39-15 in the first half, and the Crusaders defeated Lebanon Valley 64-49, ending Lebanon Valley’s Commonwealth Conference playoff hopes Saturday afternoon at the LVC Gymnasium on Senior Day.

With its win, coupled with Moravian's win over Elizabethtown on Saturday, Susquehanna (15-10, 6-8 CC) clinched a spot in the Commonwealth Conference playoffs as the No. 4 seed.

Lebanon Valley, which finishes the season 7-17 and 4-10 in the Commonwealth, received 22 points and a season-high 17 rebounds from senior forward Monica Johnson. She finishes her career third in school history with 1,299 points and second in school history in rebounds (769).

Senior forward Jen Clark led Susquehanna with 16 points and was one of four Crusaders to reach double figures in scoring.

Susquehanna never trailed in the game and led 24-11 with 4:14 remaining in the opening half before closing the half with a flurry. The Crusaders made 4 of their final 6 shots of the period while closing on a 15-4 run, fueled by a trio of 3-pointers from Clark, senior guard Meg Loughran, and senior guard Sarah Jane Kalejta. Another Kalejta jumper two seconds before the buzzer gave the Crusaders their 24-point lead at the half.

The Crusaders connected on 7 of 15 shot from beyond the arc in the opening half while forcing 16 LVC turnovers.

Lebanon Valley chipped away in the second half and reduced the deficit to 12 (56-44) with 4:36 after a lay-up from junior guard Jenna Gambino. However, Susquehanna answered with a 3-pointer from Clark, and the Crusaders held the Valley to four points the rest of the way.

Junior guard Val Houseal added 15 points for Susquehanna while junior forward Bri McNallen and Kalejta finished with 10 points apiece.

Sophomore forward Megan Bish and junior guard Donna Geiger had 10 points each for Lebanon Valley while Gambino totaled seven points and eight rebounds.

[Photo - Senior forward Monica Johnson, who had 22 points and 17 rebounds in the final game of her collegiate career on Saturday]

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