Gophers Can't Complete Comeback at Susquehanna

SELINSGROVE, Pa. - After trailing 33-18 at halftime and by as many as 19 in the second half, Goucher College cut the lead to four in the fourth quarter before succumbing to Susquehanna University 61-51 in Landmark Conference women's basketball Wednesday evening at Houts Gymnasium.

• Goucher (3-21, 0-13 Landmark) took a 6-4 lead following a Julia Cavoli (Harrisburg, Pa./Central Dauphin) basket just over three minutes into the game.
• After an 8-8 tie, the River Hawks (10-14, 5-8) scored nine straight points and built a 17-8 lead after one frame.

• Susquehanna extended its run to 11 straight points before a Cavoli basket at the 8:09 mark.
• The Gophers got the lead down to seven, 22-15, on a basket by Alayna McFadden (Silver Spring, Md./Montgomery Blair) with 4:50 on the clock.
• SU closed the half on a 11-3 run and took a 33-18 lead into the locker room.

• After going down 35-18, Goucher made a 7-1 run with a basket by Kyani Quarles (Houston, Texas/Cristo Rey Jesuit) making it 36-25 at the 6:09 mark.
• The hosts responded with a 8-0 run to build a 44-25 advantage with 4:08 left.
• The Gophers turned the tables and scored 14 straight points capped by a three by Kyla Smith (Easton, Pa./Easton) with 30 seconds to go that made it 46-39.
• The guests trailed by seven entering the final period.

• Goucher outscored Susquehanna 8-5 in the first three-plus minutes of the fourth and two free throws by Alexis Kuhlman (Mount Airy, Md./Herndon) made it 51-47 with 6:23 left.
• The River Hawks scored the next four points before a layup by Kuhlman with 2:10 on the clock made it a six-point game, 55-49.
• SU sealed the win by going 6-8 at the free throw line in the final 1:55.

• Smith led the Gophers with 14 points, knocking down a pair of three pointers.  She reached double figures for the 13th straight game and 22nd time in 23 games.
• Kuhlman finished 5-11 from the floor and totaled 13 points, while Cavoli had seven of her 10 points in the first half as she knocked down a pair of threes.
• Quarles grabbed 11 rebounds, six on the offensive end, and added seven points.
• Goucher, which outrebounded the River Hawks 41-37, shot 30.5% overall, was 5-18 from three and 10-14 at the free throw line.
• Susquehanna shot 38.5% on the night, was 4-14 from long range and 17-23 at the stripe.
• McFadden scored four points and now needs 12 for 1,000 in her career.

• The Gophers close out their season on Saturday when they host Elizabethtown, ranked No. 20 in the WBCA Division III poll, at 2 pm at the Decker Sports and Recreation Center.
• Prior to the game Goucher will honor its five seniors.