SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. - Shippensburg University women's basketball sophomore forward #Lauren Beckley# totaled her third double double in four games this season with 24 points and 14 rebounds, both game-highs, to lead the Lady Raiders to their second-straight win, 62-46 over Kutztown Saturday at Heiges Field House in a PSAC crossover.

The win was the sixth-straight for Shippensburg (3-1) against a team from the PSAC Eastern Division, dating back to an 87-61 victory at home against Bloomsburg on Dec. 19, 2006. In eight-plus seasons under head coach Kristy Trn, the Lady Raiders are 39-16 against the Eastern Division, including 23-4 at home.

It was the 10th double double of Beckley's career who was just four rebounds shy of her career-high of 18 set at West Virginia Wesleyan on Dec. 9, 2006. It was the 14th time in 32 career games that she has scored at least 20 points.

In two career games against the Golden Bears, Beckley is averaging 27.0 points and 10.0 rebounds after she totaled 30 points and six rebounds in a 93-72 victory at Kutztown on Dec. 2, 2006.

Freshman forward Kasey Gardner, a two-time PSAC Western Division Rookie of the Week selection this season, totaled 14 points, five rebounds and three steals while being matched against two-time PSAC Eastern Division Rookie of the Week Melissa McQuade.

Junior forward Elise Mercer added 10 points and five rebounds, marking the third time in four games this season she has scored in double figures. Prior to this season, Mercer's career-high in points was nine.

Shippensburg jumped out to a 20-9 lead in the game's first nine minutes behind eight points from Beckley and four each from Mercer and sophomore guard Michelle Metz. Beckley had 12 points and eight rebounds in 17 first half minutes.

Meanwhile, Metz finished the game with four points, five rebounds and four assists.

The Lady Raiders led by as many as 18 in the second half after holding Kutztown to just 29.2 percent shooting from the floor and forcing 10 turnovers.

Senior guard #Megan Fogle# totaled four points, seven rebounds, three assists and four steals, but was just 2-of-17 from the field and 0-of-2 from the free throw line, snapping her consecutive free throw streak at 11.

Mercedes Van Wagner had 12 points and seven rebounds for Kutztown (3-2) who had its two-game win streak snapped. McQuade also had a team-high seven rebounds to go along with 11 points.

Shippensburg will host East Stroudsburg at Heiges Field House tomorrow afternoon beginning at 1:00 p.m., in its final home game of 2007. The Lady Raiders are not scheduled to return home until January 5, a span of 33 days, when they take on West Chester.

Sunday's game will be broadcast live on Shippensburg University student radio station WSYC 88.7 FM and on the internet at raiders.ship.edu.

- Lady Raider Basketball -