WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Catholic University women's basketball team improved to 12-3 on the season and 3-1 in Landmark Conference play with a 63-43 victory over Susquehanna on Friday evening in the DuFour Center. Four Catholic players scored at least 10 points in the win. 

Rachel Bussanich registered a double-double for Catholic, scoring 13 points and grabbing 10 rebounds to lead the Cardinals. Carly Mulvaney scored 11 points, grabbed five boards, and nabbed three steals while Erin Doherty and Erin Thompson each had 10 points for the Cards.

Catholic used a 16-6 second period to take a 10-point halftime lead after a slow start offensively in the first quarter. The Cardinals went on to outscore the River Hawks in each of the final three periods. 

After Susquehanna hit a three on its first offensive possession of the second to take a 15-12 lead, Catholic went on a 16-3 run over the final 9:17 of the half to break things open. Amelia Baldo hit a pair of layups and assisted on a third basket in a quick 6-0 run in just over a minute of game time to help Catholic retake the lead. A pair of Keegan Douglas free throws at the 4:07 mark pushed Catholic's lead to 22-15. 

The River Hawks answered with a bucket, but Mulvaney scored four of the next six points as the Cardinal lead grew to double digits for the first time at 28-17. 

With Catholic leading by 10 at the half, both teams traded buckets to open the third quarter before a 6-0 Catholic run pushed the lead to 38-24 after a Bussanich jumper. Another quick five-point spurt later in the period extended Catholic's lead to 18 after an Anna Scoblick layup. 

Catholic led by 16 heading into the fourth but never led by less than that the rest away, pushing the lead to 22 on another Bussanich layup with 5:44 to go.  

The Cardinals outrebounded the River Hawks by 11 and forced 25 turnovers in the contest. 

Catholic will return to action on Wednesday in a crucial Landmark Conference meeting with Elizabethtown on Franny Murray Court. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.