SELINSGROVE, Pa.- The Juniata women's basketball team suffered a 61-33 away defeat to Landmark Conference opponent Susquehanna University on Wednesday night. 

Steph Emert led the Eagles with seven points, along with a pair of steals. Laney Gerdich and Haily Sherman each had six points, while Gerdich led Juniata with nine rebounds. Off the bench, Dani Scipioni provided five points, a steal, and two assists. 

Susquehanna opened the scoring two minutes in with a layup, pushing out to a 7-0 run over the next three minutes off another layup and three free throws. Gerdich got the Eagles on the board five minutes later, beating a pair of defenders at the post. A long-range jump shot from Emma Coolidge from the left side got Juniata back within three. The teams traded baskets on the next possession. A pair of threes from the River Hawks gave them a 15-6 advantage through the first ten minutes. 

Two Juniata drives to open the second quarter produced five points from Sherman to get the Eagles within four. Sherman opened the quarter, making use of space at the top of the arc for an open three. Right off the next River Hawks possession, Kynnedy Miller dispossessed a Susquehanna player at midcourt, recovered the rolling loose ball near the baseline, and dished the ball laterally to Sherman for a left-side layup for five points in 15 seconds.  

A 9-0 run over the next five minutes quelled a Juniata comeback, with the Eagles posting just three points the rest of the way, ending the half eventually down by a 32-14 scoreline.  

Susquehanna nearly shut out Susquehanna in the third quarter, outscoring Juniata 17-1. 

Juniata was able to outscore Susquehanna in the fourth quarter 18-12, with five points from Emert, including a three, and four points from Sarah Betts. 

The Juniata women's basketball team is on their road for their weekend contest, as they face #14 Scranton on Saturday at 4:00 pm.