MADISON, N.J. – Junior Forward Gianna Pica posted her eighth 20-point game of the season, but the Drew University women's basketball team lost by a 75-64 count against Susquehanna University in a Landmark Conference matchup Wednesday evening in Baldwin Gym.
 
The Rangers (8-4, 3-2 LC) trailed just 32-31 at the half, but Susquehanna (6-6, 3-2 LC) pulled away in the second half.
 
Pica, who entered the night as the second-leading scorer in the Landmark conference (18.7 ppg), 8-for-17 from the field and 3-for-3 at the foul line to finish with 20 points on the night.
 
Junior guard Maddie Beyer added 11 points for the Rangers while sophomore guard Amy Rachilla contributed eight points and four assists.
 
The River Hawks received 22 points from Kenzie Selvaggi while Zoie Maffei netted 18 points.
 
The Rangers trailed 22-14 at the end of the first quarter but mounted a comeback toward the end of the opening half. Sophomore guard Alice Altomare drained a 3-pointer with 17 seconds left before Beyer came away with a steal and went coast-to-coast for a layup, just beating the buzzer to cut the gap to 32-31 at the break.
 
Drew took a brief lead to open the second half, as Pica knocked down a pair of a pair of free throws to make it 33-32. The Rangers trailed just 48-44 after a pair of Rachilla free throws with 4:10 left in the third quarter, but the River Hawks used a 6-0 spurt and open up a 10-point lead. Susquehanna led 54-46 heading into the final quarter.
 
The hosts nudged to within six (56-50) with 6:13 remaining in the third quarter, but a 10-3 Susquehanna run put the visitors up 13 with 3:52 left. The River Hawks maintained a double-digit lead the rest of the way.
 
Drew continues its season on Saturday, when it visits 11th-ranked Catholic University at 2 p.m.  in another Landmark Conference matchup.