CALIFORNIA, Pa. - Brooque Williams scored a career-high 35 points and California (Pa.) forced 29 turnovers, including 20 in the first half, as the Vulcans handed Shippensburg an 86-66 loss in women's basketball Wednesday night at Hamer Hall.
The loss was the second-straight for Shippensburg (17-8, 5-5 PSAC West) and the 11th in-a-row at Hamer Hall. The Lady Raiders are now in a tie for fourth-place in the PSAC Western Division with Edinboro who was idle Wednesday.
Shippensburg has two regular-season games remaining, both at home, against Slippery Rock on Saturday and No. 9 Indiana (Pa.) next Wednesday. The top four teams from each division advance to the PSAC Women's Basketball Championship.
Meanwhile, the Vulcans (19-5, 6-3 PSAC West), ranked third in the latest NCAA Division II East Region rankings, maintained its hold on third place, half-a-game behind Clarion who defeated Lock Haven Wednesday, 83-76.
Edinboro has three games remaining, as the Fighting Scots hos Lock Haven Saturday before travelling to Clarion next Wednesday and rounding out the season March 1 against California.
Sophomore forward Lauren Beckley led Shippensburg with 20 points and eight rebounds, just missing her 11th-straight double double and 20th this season. She moved past Ellen Banick (1990-94) into 14th on the school's career scoring list with 1,130 points.
Senior guard Megan Fogle had 14 points to move within 18 points of Vickie Mikesic (1997-01) for 11th on the all-time list.
The Lady Raiders jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the game's first 45 seconds on a layup by freshman forward #Kasey Gardner# and a three-pointer by Fogle, but the Vulcans responded with a 28-16 run to take a seven-point lead, 28-21 with 8:09 remaining. During that span of 8:06, California forced 13 turnovers and made 11-of-20 attempts from the floor.
Both teams shot the ball well in the first half, highlighted by Shippensburg's 63.2 percent to the Vulcans' 52.6 percent, but California managed to get 38 attempts compared to just 19 for the Lady Raiders who were hampered by their 20 turnovers.
In a match-up of the top two freshmen in the PSAC, Gardner finished with eight points, six rebounds and five assists while the Vulcans' Kayla Smith was limited to just six points and three points on 3-of-11 shooting. Gardner and Smith have combined for 11 of the 12 PSAC Western Division Rookie of the Week awards handed out by the conference this season with Gardner earning the honor five times.
Junior forward #Elise Mercer# added 12 points and four rebounds for the Lady Raiders who were held to their second lowest point total in 10 conference games this season.
Williams, who also added 12 rebounds and four assists, led four Vulcans in double figures. Crystal Andrews finished with 12 points and eight assists.
Shippensburg returns to action on Saturday against Slippery Rock at home. Game time from Heiges Field House is at 1:00 p.m. The Lady Raiders handed The Rock a 74-58 loss back on February 2.
- Lady Raider Basketball -
