Susquehanna Women's Basketball

2008 Susquehanna Valley Girls Basketball Camp

(13-12 overall, 6-8 Landmark Conference)

Susquehanna says goodbye to its seniors Box Score

SELINGSROVE, PA. – Five senior women played the final game of their collegiate careers Saturday night as Susquehanna's playoff hopes were diminished by a 72-56 loss at the hands of Juniata College.

Susquehanna had to defeat Juniata and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy had to lose in order for the Crusaders to clinch a spot in the Landmark Conference playoffs.

With 1:02 left in the game, seniors Leigh Henderson (Selinsgrove, Pa./Selinsgrove), Val Houseal (Harleysville, Pa./Souderton), Ruth Williamson (State College, Pa./DuBois Central Catholic), Bri McNallen (Emmaus, Pa./Emmaus) and Courtney Thibeault (Brielle, N.J./Manasquan) received a standing ovation as they stepped off of the court for the final time.

Head coach Jim Reed honored all five seniors by starting them. No senior played less than 20 minutes.

Juniata outscored Susquehanna 34-16 in the first half, but the Crusaders put up two more points in the second half than the Eagles.

Freshman Rachel Hughes (Gordon, Pa./North Schuylkill) led the Crusaders, scoring a career-high 19 points in 23 minutes of play. Hughes also had two steals, two rebounds and two assists.

The Crusaders shot 40 percent from the field, including 21.4 percent from behind the three-point line.

The Eagles shot a perfect 100 percent from the free-throw line, going 11-11.

Juniata's Kelly Ashcraft tied Hughes for the game-high in points with 19. The Eagles put two other women in double figures as well with Claudia McDowell and Kelly Rotan posting 15 and 11, respectively.