SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. - Junior Elise Mercer scored a career-high 16 points to lead four Shippensburg University women's basketball players in double figures as the Lady Raiders used a complete team effort in posting a 71-57 victory over Pittsburgh-Johnstown Sunday afternoon at Heiges Field House.

Shippensburg (2-1) scored 44 points in the paint and 31 off turnovers in a match-up against former assistant head coach Sasha Palmer who is currently in her first season as the head coach at UPJ. The Lady Raiders totaled 26 of their 32 first half points in the paint.

Mercer scored nine of her team-high 16 points in the second half while sophomore Lauren Beckley finished with her ninth career double double and second in three games this season with 14 points and 10 rebounds. Beckley also added four steals and three blocks.

Other Lady Raiders in double figures included senior guard #Megan Fogle# who added 16 points and reigning PSAC Western Division Rookie of the Week, freshman guard Kasey Gardner, who had 10 to go along with five rebounds, four steals and three assists.

Meanwhile, sophomore guard Michelle Metz had a strong all-around performance with nine points, career-high six assists and three rebounds. She also committed just two turnovers.

Pittsburgh-Johnstown (1-2), who was led by a game-high 18 points from Lindsay Cale, jumped out to a 10-4 lead in the game's first five minutes before Shippensburg responded with a 16-0 run to take a 20-10 with 8:36 left in the first half.

The Lady Raiders would increase their lead to 14, 30-16 with 4:03 remaining, thanks to a pressuring defense which held the Lady Cats to just six points in 11:04. During that time, UPJ was just 3-of-9 from the field while committing 10 turnovers.

Shippensburg would lead by as many as 18 in the second half, which was the same amout of points off turnovers it scored in the half. Fogle scored 12 of her 16 points in the half to lead all scorers.

Another key in the Lady Raiders' victory was offensive rebounding. Sixteen of their 34 rebounds were offensive which led to 22 second change points.

Shippensburg will now have five days off before returning to action on Saturday for the first of two PSAC Eastern Division crossover games at home against Kutztown. Tip-off is at 1:00 p.m., and is part of a doubleheader with the men's team.

- Lady Raider Basketball -