JOHNSTOWN, Pa. - Behind 33 points from Allison Kirscher and 22 from Jessica Zapf, the Pittsburgh-Johnstown women's basketball team won its third-straight game with an 85-75 victory over Shippensburg on Wednesday night at the Sports Center.

The Lady Cats (3-1) have won three consecutive meetings with Shippensburg and four of the last five at home.

In three games against the Lady Raiders as starters over the last three seasons, Krischer and Zapf have each averaged 20.7 points while posting 3-0 records and going undefeated at home.

Shippensburg (2-3) was led in scoring for the third time in five games this season by freshman forward Lauren Beckley (Fairfield/Fairfield) who had a team-high 24 points. She also added a game-high eight rebounds.

Named PSAC Western Division Rookie of the Week on Tuesday, Beckley has scored in double figures in all five games this season and currently leads the team in scoring at 19.2 points per game. Through five games, she is also averaging 8.0 rebounds per game and has made 18 three-pointers.

As has been the case in the last three meetings with UPJ, Shippensburg fell behind early in the first half and trailed at halftime.

Led by Krischer and Zapf who combined for 27 points, including 16 by Krischer with four three-pointers, the Lady Cats led 40-31 at the half as they shot 53.3-percent from the floor while holding the Lady Raiders to just 37.1-percent.

After a lay-up by red-shirt freshman forward Jenny Cunningham (McVeytown/Lewistown) brought Shippensburg within two, 18-16 with 12:05 remaining in the first half, the Lady Raiders would not score another basket from the floor until the 4:08 mark.

Meanwhile, Pittsburgh-Johnstown stretched its lead to 12 by that point, 33-21, thanks to 11 points from Kirscher, nine of which came on consecutive three-pointers.

In the last two meetings, Shippensburg trailed 42-26 in last season's 74-59 loss at home and 42-29 en route to an 85-74 loss at the Sports Center on Nov. 30, 2004.

UPJ would stretch its lead to as many as 18 in the second half as the Lady Raiders could not get any closer than eight points despite 12 points from junior guard Megan Fogle (Wrightsville/Eastern York) and 11 points from Beckley.

For the second-straight meeting, the Lady Cats also did a good job defensively at containing senior center and 2006 All-PSAC Western Division First Team selection Shanna Oaddams (Willingboro, N.J./Willingboro) who had 10 points and two rebounds in only 14 minutes before fouling out with 6:24 left in the game.

Last year, Oaddams was limited to only five points and eight rebounds in 37 minutes. She entered tonight's game averaging 18.8 points and 10.5 rebounds.

As for Fogle, an All-PSAC Western Division Second Team selection a year ago, she finished with 18 points, one shy of her season-high set in a 65-60 win versus Assumption on November 18. She also added four rebounds and four assists.

Sophomore guard Phylicia Bessick (Columbia/Hempfield) had a strong all-around game for the Lady Raiders, finishing with seven points, seven rebounds and a career-high five assists. Fellow sophomore guard Elise Mercer (Bishopville, Md./Stephen Decator) also had a strong game off the bench, totaling seven points and three rebounds in 12 minutes.

For UPJ, Chelsea McKinney was also in double figures, adding 12 points along with a game-high six assists.

Shippensburg looks to get back on track this weekend with back-to-back PSAC crossover games at Kutztown and East Stroudsburg. The Lady Raiders travel to Kutztown on Saturday for a 1:00 p.m., tip-off before heading to ESU on Sunday.