WILLIAMSPORT, Pa.--Eastern Women's Basketball dropped the opening game of Lycoming College's Hoops for Hounds invitational tournament, falling to Susquehanna College 53-49 Friday night.

Eastern held a 12-point lead with less than five minutes remaining in the first half and entered halftime with a 33-26 edge. However, in the second half Eastern shot 24 percent (6-for-25) from the floor, scoring a total of 16 points.

Both Eastern and Susquehanna shot 19-for-53 (35.8 percent) from the floor in the game, but the difference came from two more 3-pointers and two more free throws for the Crusaders.

Eastern's Meghan Nowak finished with 15 points and 13 rebounds. Kaleigh Boreman finished with 10 points and six rebounds. Susquehanna guards Jonaida Williams and Mariah Monahan scored 18 and 17 points, respectively.

Eastern scored its final field goal of the game with 4:39 to play on a layup by Tori Grossi, giving Eastern the 47-46 lead. After Susquehanna regained the lead with a Monahan 3-pointer, Eastern tied the game at 49-49 with two free throws from Kaitlyn Dougherty with 3:55 to go.

Monahan put the Crusaders ahead by hitting another 3-pointer with 3:04 to go. Neither team scored until 17 seconds remained, when Susquehanna's Eleni Dimou hit one-of-two free throws for the final points of the game.

Eastern plays host Lycoming in the consolation game at 1 p.m. Saturday.

Box Score