EAST STROUDSBURG, Pa. - Led by 27 points and 10 rebounds from sophomore forward Lauren Beckley, the Shippensburg University women's basketball team won its fifth-straight game on Saturday, defeating Seton Hill 66-47 in the ESU Rotary Classic held at East Stroudsburg's Koehler Fieldhouse.
The last time the Lady Raiders (6-1) started a season with six wins in their first seven games was 2003-04 when they started 7-1 en route to finishing 19-11 and an appearance in the PSAC championship game.
Senior guard Megan Fogle also added a career-high 23 points while junior forward Elise Mercer totaled 10 points and five rebounds.
Beckley totaled 13 of her 27 points in the first half as Shippensburg built a 25-18 halftime lead. Neither team shot the ball well in the opening half as the Lady Raiders shot 28.6 percent from the floor and the Griffins just 22.7 percent.
Fogle opened the game with a three-pointer at 19:18 before Seton Hill (4-3) made three free throws to tie the game at 3-3 with 12:29 to play in the first half. During that time, the two teams combined to go 1-for-19 from the field. Shippensburg held the Griffins without a field goal for the game's first 9:25 as they missed their first 10 attempts and did not score until Jordan Burkes hit a jumper to tie the game at 5-5 with 10:35 left.
In the second half, Beckley and Fogle totaled 31 of Shippensburg's 41 points, including the final 13. Fogle scored 17 of her 23 points in the half as the Lady Raiders outscored the Griffins, 41-29.
During Shippensburg's five-game winning streak, it has held its three of its opponents to 50 points or less while limiting four to a field goal percentage of 40 percent or less. For the season, Lady Raider opponents are averaging just 57.1 points per game.
Jordan Burkes was the lone Griffin in double figures with 11 points. She also added a team-high seven rebounds.
Shippensburg will have the next week off for final exams before returning to action at West Virginia Wesleyan next Saturday, December 15. Tip-off against the Bobcats is at 1:00 p.m.
- Lady Raider Basketball -
