Box Score

SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. - Sophomore forward Kasey Gardner and junior forward Lauren Beckley each recorded double-doubles on Wednesday night from Heiges Field House while the No. 23-ranked Lady Raiders forced 25 turnovers in a 74-43 victory over road-weary West Virginia Wesleyan.

Shippensburg (5-0) had four players score in double figures for the second consecutive game. Gardner led the way with 15 points and 11 rebounds, while Beckley finished with 11 points and 11 rebounds.

Senior guard Elise Mercer had an excellent game with 14 points, including 8-of-8 from the free-throw line. She drew two fouls that led to three-point plays and also finished with three steals.

Freshman guard Erin Varley exhibited a lot of poise on the court, scoring 12 points, gathering five rebounds and dishing out three assists while committing just one turnover in the contest.

West Virginia Wesleyan (2-3) was competing against its third ranked opponent in five games this season and was also playing in its second road contest over the last three days. The Lady Bobcats were just 1-of-19 from the field to start the game and finished the contest shooting just 27.1 percent from the field.

Senior Sarah Van Horn, the reigning WVIAC Player of the Year, scored the opening bucket of the game in the first 30 seconds but was held off the score sheet for the remainder of the half. She was held to 12 points in the contest and committed six turnovers.

At halftime, Shippensburg held a 27-14 lead - marking the fewest combined points in a half since the Lady Raiders and California (Pa.) combined for 41 points on Feb. 23, 2005. The 43 points allowed in the game by Shippensburg is the lowest total for an opponent since a 62-33 victory over Slippery Rock on Jan. 29, 2005 - a span of 98 games.

After trailing 4-2 in the first five minutes, the Lady Raiders erupted on a 23-6 run over the next 13 minutes to take a 17-point lead with 2:53 to play in the half. Shippensburg led by as many as 33 points in the contest.

Nine different players scored for the Lady Raiders on Wednesday night. Freshman Lindsay Howard had six points, two rebounds and two blocks in 14 minutes, while fellow freshman Jenn Morrow added four points in eight minutes.

Shippensburg also continued its excellent free-throw shooting Wednesday night, making its first 18 attempts of the game before a miss with 2:26 to play. The team finished 18-of-20 from the free-throw line in the game and is now shooting 83.3 percent for the season.

The Lady Raiders return to action on Thursday, December 18 in a road contest against Seton Hill that begins at 5:30 p.m.