WASHINGTON – CUA shook off a rough early start to down Susquehanna 65-42 on Friday inside the DuFour Center.  Jenny McGann knocked down 5 of 9 shots on her way to 14 points, while Emily Grabiak added 12 for the Cardinals, who are now 11-3 overall and 3-1 in the Landmark Conference.

The first half was far from pretty, with the teams combining for 29 turnovers, including 18 by Susquehanna.  CUA shot just 32% from the floor, but took a 34-20 lead into the locker room.

McGann's layup at the 17:40 mark of the opening half gave the Cardinals a 5-3 lead, but Jonaida Williams splashed a 3-pointer down the other end to put the Crusaders on top 6-5.

Jill Woerner's jumper at the 15:18 mark knotted the score at nine, and from there both teams went cold, going over three minutes without a point.

That changed when Liz Briones sank a jumper at the 11:43 mark for a two-point CUA lead.

McGann sank a trifecta a minute later and the Cardinals were in front 14-9.

Kelli Josephsen got into the shooting act with a three of her own at the 8:23 mark and that gave CUA a 17-11 lead.

Claire McEvily's bucket with 5:12 to play before halftime put CUA on top by seven, and back-to-back jumpers by Woerner and McGann made it a 10-point advantage.

In the final minute, Rachel Ferri sank a 3-pointer and Woerner hit a jumper to send the Cardinals into halftime with a 14-point lead.

Josephsen sank a jumper early in the second to extend the lead to 16, and after Grabiak drilled a three with 15:20 on the clock, CUA was in front by 17.

Woerner's basket with 14:23 to play gave the Cardinals a 19-point advantage, and with 6:52 remaining, Holly Janicki sank a 3-pointer to give CUA its biggest lead of the night up to that point, 55-33.

The lead reached 26 on Janicki's layup with 5:51 to play, and after Josephsen sank a pair at the line with 1:56 on the clock, CUA was on top by 29.

CUA dominated Susquehanna on the glass, pulling down 61 rebounds, led by Katarina Owunna and Josephsen with 10 apiece.  Woerner and Grabiak added seven each, while Woerner's four assists led the team.

Eleni Dimou scored 12 points to lead Susquehanna, but the Crusaders only pulled down 38 rebounds and they turned the ball over 28 times.

On Saturday, CUA will welcome Juniata to the DuFour Center for a 4 p.m. tip-off.