EDINBORO, Pa. - Samantha Reimer and Janine McDonald combined for 49 of Edinboro's 77 points, 38 of which came in the second half as the Fighting Scots erased an early eight-point deficit en route to a 77-65 victory over Shippensburg in women's basketball Saturday afternoon at McComb Fieldhouse.

The victory was the second-straight for the Fighting Scots (13-8, 3-4 PSAC West) after they had lost three-straight to fall to fifth place in the Western Division standings. However, back-to-back wins two of the top three teams in the conference in California (Pa.) and Shippensburg, have pulled Edinboro to within one game of the Lady Raiders who fell out of a three-way tie for second.

Sophomore forward Lauren Beckley led Shippensburg (16-6, 4-3 PSAC West) with her 17th double double of the season as she totaled 17 points and a game-high 12 rebounds. Junior forward Elise Mercer added 19 points, two shy of her career-high.

Saturday's game featured six ties and 11 lead changes, the most important of which came with 11:31 remaining when Reimer hit the second of two free throws to give Edinboro a 46-45 lead, one that it would not relinquish the rest of the contest.

Reimer, who entered the game ranked second in the PSAC in scoring behind Beckley at 20.2 points per game, scored all 26 of her points in the second half, including 11 of the Fighting Scots' first 14 to give them a one-point lead. Her free throw at 11:31 sparked an 11-0 run to put Edinboro in front by 11, 56-45 with 8:28 remaining.

Led by seven points from Beckley, the Lady Raiders cut the lead to six on two separate occasions, but both times, McDonald answered with a 12-foot jumper inside the paint to keep Shippensburg at bay.

Reimer and McDonald combined to score 23 of the Fighting Scots' final 25 points over the last 8:28 with Reimer contributing 15 and McDonald eight.

McDonald, who came in averaging 11.2 points per game, finished with 23 to mark her third 20-point game this season. She also added a team-high six rebounds. Meanwhile, Reimer totaled her 11th 20-point game of the year to lead four Edinboro players in double figures.

Shippensburg freshman forward Kasey Gardner, whose defensive effort held Reimer scoreless in the first half, finished with 10 points, four rebounds and the team's only two steals of the game while sophomore guard #Michelle Metz# totaled seven points and eight assists, one short of her career-high of nine set last Saturday at Slippery Rock.

The Lady Raiders, ranked fifth in the NCAA Division II East Region rankings, return to action next Wednesday, February 13 at Lock Haven. Game time from Thomas Fieldhouse is at 6:00 p.m., with the game being broadcast live on Shippensburg University student radio station WSYC 88.7 FM as well as on the internet at raiders.ship.edu.

- Lady Raider Basketball -