CHEYNEY, Pa. - Sophomore forward #Lauren Beckley# scored a career-high 38 points to lead four Lady Raiders in double figures as the Shippensburg University women's basketball team overcame 30 turnovers en route to an 82-73 victory over Cheyney Sunday afternoon at Cope Hall.
It marked the second time in the last four games that Beckley has scored at least 35 points and the fourth time in 15 games this season. She has eclipsed the 30-point mark six times in her career, setting a new career-high three times this year.
The school record for points in a game is 45, set by current head coach Kristy Trn against Cheyney on Feb. 11, 1993 and the last time a Lady Raider scored 40 or more points was Feb. 8, 1995 when Tracy Spencer dropped 41 on Indiana (Pa.).
Beckley continues to move closer to becoming the first woman in both school and PSAC history to reach 1,000 career points as a sophomore as Sunday's performance gives her 894 in just her 43rd career game, an average of 20.8 per game.
As a team, Shippensburg (12-3) has now won nine in a row over Cheyney, including six-straight on the road, while matching its best start since the 2000-01 season when the Lady Raiders started 18-2 en route to a 28-5 record, their conference record sixth-straight PSAC championship and an appearance in the Elite Eight.
Shippensburg has not lost to Cheyney on the road since Jan. 30, 1989 and is 49-19 against the PSAC Eastern Division in nine seasons under head coach Kristy Trn who became the team's career wins leader on January 6 with a 72-61 victory over Millersville at home.
Despite 38 points from Beckley and a 15-point second half lead, the Lady Raiders had to fight off a late Cheyney rally by hitting all six of their free throw attempts in the final 2:16.
After trimming a 15-point deficit to just four midway through the second half, a 9-2 run by the Wolves (3-10) cut a nine-point deficit to just two, 69-67 with 4:21 remaining.
A large part of Cheyney's ability to get back in the game came as a result of Shippensburg's 19 second half turnovers which led to 23 points for the Wolves. In addition, Cheyney scored 12 second chance points off of 15 offensive rebounds while outscoring the Lady Raiders 24-7 in bench points.
However, with Shippensburg still leading by only two, 74-72 with 2:48 left to play, the Wolves would not score from the floor the rest of the way, finishing the game 0-for-6. Meanwhile, the Lady Raiders ended with an 8-1 run, getting six points from the free throw line.
In addition to Beckley's 38, junior forward Elise Mercer added 16 points and senior guard Megan Fogle had 11 to go along with four rebounds, five assists and three steals.
In her first game of the season after missing the first 14 due to a foot injury, junior guard Phylicia Bessick totaled all of 10 her points from the free throw line where she went 10-of-11. As a team, Shippensburg was 28-of-33 from the line for 84.8-percent.
Beckley also added a team-high 10 rebounds for her 10th double double this season and the 17th of her career. Despite being held scoreless for the first time this year, freshman forward #Kasey Gardner#added eight rebounds and four assists.
Sophomore guard Michelle Metz had four points, six rebounds and five assists in a career-high 38 minutes.
Shippensburg opens PSAC Western Division play at home against Lock Haven on Wednesday. Tip-off is at 6:00 p.m. Following the game and prior to the men's game at 8:00 p.m., there will be a short ceremony dedicating the new wood floor.
- Lady Raider Basketball -
