Julia Roth returned from a torn anterior cruciate ligament in her final basketball game at Central Catholic to become an all-Landmark Conference first-team selection within her first two seasons at Susquehanna University.
After suffering a second ACL tear in her first game last season, she’s authoring another successful comeback story.
Roth finished the 2025 portion of her senior season by converting a game-winning layup with 2.8 seconds to go Friday in Susquehanna’s 63-61 win over Montclair State in Puerto Rico. That shot gave the River Hawks a second victory in the Puerto Rico Clasico and a 10-1 record heading into their holiday break.
Roth has played a starring role in helping Susquehanna to its best start since the 1982-83 season. She posted three double-doubles last week to earn Landmark Conference women’s basketball athlete of the week honors Monday. She has started in all 10 games she’s played and leads Susquehanna in scoring (14.0 points per game) and rebounding (9.7 boards per game).
“She’s just a workhorse,” Susquehanna coach Gabby Holko said by phone Monday. “She’s somebody who is going to give her all every time she’s on the floor. She just knows how this game can be taken from you. So, she just looks at it as an opportunity every day.”
Roth’s scoring and rebounding numbers are on par with what she posted in 2023-24. She averaged 14.9 points and 9.0 rebounds per game that season to earn a spot on the all-Landmark Conference first team.
Roth, a 5-10 forward, had a monster opening game last season (26 points, 10 rebounds) before tearing her ACL while attempting a layup. Having torn her ACL before, she immediately knew her season was over.
“It’s definitely been a battle,” Roth said. “Missing all of last year was really difficult. But it just makes me so much more appreciative to be able to play this year and be able to end my senior year on my terms and being able to play, and being able to be out there with all my best friends.”
Roth credited her rehab team with Lehigh Valley Health Network and Coordinated Health plus the athletic training staff at Susquehanna for helping her feel fully healthy again. She does added work before and after practice and games to keep her knee in shape.
The biggest disappointment Roth’s had this season may have been off the court. The River Hawks were supposed to snorkel with sea turtles on their off day in Puerto Rico, but rough surf forced them to skip it.
Roth and her teammates still had a chance to enjoy a beach and pool day.
“We had a really fun time,” Roth said. “We were able to do this trip my freshman year too, so it was actually my second time in Puerto Rico. It was such a great experience.
“It’s cool to play in such a huge stadium. My parents made the trip out, so I was able to spend a lot of time with them. They were able to be at the games, and we went to dinner. It was just such a fun time with all the girls and all the crazy traveling experiences.
“Two of our girls, it was their first time flying, so that was pretty exciting too.”
Halko, Roth and the River Hawks will return to basketball games when they resume Landmark Conference play Jan. 7 at Lycoming. Susquehanna will then head to the Palestra in Philadelphia to play Scranton, which is ranked No. 2 in NCAA Division III, on Jan. 11.
Susquehanna has finished 12-6 in the Landmark Conference and earned the No. 4 seed for the conference tournament each of the past two seasons. The River Hawks have positioned themselves to aim higher this season.
Having a healthy, happy Roth is a huge plus.
“Tearing your ACL for a second time isn’t something you would wish upon anybody,” Halko said. “I think for a little bit, she was overanalyzing and overthinking things a little bit too much.
“Her body is just going to feel a little bit different. As a senior, playing a collegiate sport anyway, your body hurts. Tearing two ACLs, your body hurts even more. She’s somebody that is huge on the recovery process. She takes care of her body. She’s resting. She’s hydrating. She’s doing everything she needs to do to make sure she’s the best version of herself.
“Now, even starting down in Puerto Rico, she’s just attacking each game as she would prior to the injury. We’re extremely proud of her.”
D-I check-in: The Lehigh and Lafayette men will begin Patriot League play on New Year’s Eve looking for fresh starts after scuffling during nonleague play.
Lehigh finished its nonleague slate at 4-9 after losing Sunday at Monmouth. Junior guard Nasir Whitlock has been a bright spot for the Mountain Hawks. He began the week averaging a Patriot League-best 19.6 points per game.
Lafayette will lug a 3-10 mark into its Patriot League schedule after falling Saturday at Georgia Tech. The Leopards started the week with the Patriot League’s No. 2 scorer in sophomore guard Caleb Williams. He’s averaging 17.2 points per game while shooting 39.6% from 3-point range.
Tip-ins: The East Stroudsburg University women were picked to finish sixth in the PSAC East in the league’s preseason poll but will take a 7-3 overall record (2-2 PSAC) into 2026. The Warriors pushed Indiana (Pa.), ranked No. 10 in NCAA Division II, on Sunday before falling 56-49. … Bloomsburg junior Kelly Leszcynski (Nazareth) leads the PSAC with 5.1 assists per game.
