SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. - Junior guard Megan Fogle (Wrightsville/Eastern York) became the 15th player in school history to reach 1,000 career points as the Shippensburg women's basketball team maintained its hold on third-place in the PSAC Western Division with a 79-65 victory over Slippery Rock on Saturday at Morrow Field House.
With the win, the Lady Raiders (16-9, 6-4 PSAC West) clinched a spot in the upcoming PSAC Women's Basketball Championship, its 12th in the last 13 years. Shippensburg is still fighting for seeding, trailing California (Pa.) for the second spot by just a half-game. The second-seed in the West would ensure the Lady Raiders a home game in the quarterfinals on Tuesday, February 27.
With four points, Fogle now has 1,001 for her career, 22 behind Mary Endsley. Endsley totaled 1,023 points from 1981-85 to rank 14th on the school's career list.
The key for Shippensburg in Saturday's victory was the stellar play of the team's bench which accounted for 37 of the team's 79 points, led by a career-high 20 from sophomore guard Phylicia Bessick (Columbia/Hempfield) 12 of which came in the first half. Bessick was 5-of-10 from the floor, including 4-of-5 from three-point range.
Bessick scored six of her 12 first half points consecutively in a 1:32 span in which the Lady Raiders increased their lead from three to 12, taking a 31-19 lead with 8:08 remaining in the half. Her previous career-high was 19 points set against both Mercy and Clarion at home last season.
Bessick led five players in double figures as freshman forward Lauren Beckley (Fairfield/Fairfield) had 15 points and freshman guard Michelle Metz (Pottstown/Pottsgrove) scored a career-high 11. Metz's previous career-high was seven points set twice this season at East Stroudsburg at home versus Clarion. She also added six assists, one shy of her career-high.
With 15 points, 10 of which came in the first half, Beckley raised her season total to 487, tying Jessie Gordon (2001-02) for 11th on the school's single-season list. She needs just 13 more to become the first person since Ashley Totedo during the 1998-99 season to reach 500. The PSAC record for points scored by a freshman is 537, set by Sara McKinney of California (Pa.) in 2001.
Red-shirt freshman forward Jenny Cunningham (McVeytown/Lewistown) also added 11 points to go along with a game-high 11 rebounds as she totaled her second career double double. Meanwhile, senior center Shanna Oaddams (Willingboro, N.J./Willingboro) added 10 points to go along with four assists.
Chere Marshall led Slippery Rock (9-15, 3-7 PSAC West) with 16 points while Nikki Presto and Amanda Kaufman each added 10.
If Shippensburg is to have any chance at hosting a quarterfinal game in the PSAC Women's Basketball Championship, it must get a victory against California (Pa.) on Monday night at Heiges Field House. Game time is at 6:00 p.m., in what will be the final regular-season home of the 2006-07 season for the Lady Raiders.
Prior to the game, the team will honor its two seniors in Oaddams and guard Samantha Ramus (New Cumberland/Trinity). Shippensburg also will recognize National Girls and Women in Sports Day on Monday night. All women in attendance will be admitted FREE and receive a free popcorn and soda courtesy of the Shippensburg President's Office.
