Box Score

BUCKHANNON, W.Va. - The Shippensburg University women's basketball team competed in its first game in eight days on a snowy Saturday afternoon from Rockefeller Center but could not finish down the stretch, dropping a 64-61 decision to the Bobcats of West Virginia Wesleyan College.

Shippensburg (5-4) was tied with the homestanding Bobcats at halftime but gained momentum midway through the final period. The Lady Raiders erupted on a 16-4 run to build a 53-40 lead with 8:48 to play. Freshman guards Kerry Conroy and Morgan Taylor each hit three-pointers and combined for 12 points during the key stretch.

West Virginia Wesleyan (4-3) embarked upon an 18-5 run of its own and tied the score with 1:43 to play. The Bobcats sank a layup with 83 seconds to play and then built a six-point lead with 18 seconds to play by converting several free-throw attempts down the stretch. Conroy sunk a three-pointer for SU just six seconds later that brought the score to 64-61.

With four seconds to play and West Virginia Wesleyan still in a one-and-one foul shooting situation, Alex Hertenstein missed a free throw and SU got the rebound with a chance to tie the game but a last second shot attempt was rejected just before the buzzer. 

Senior forward Lauren Beckley and junior forward Kasey Gardner each contributed double-doubles in the contest. Beckley finished with 15 points and 11 rebounds, while Gardner added 10 points, 10 rebounds, two assists and two steals.

Taylor had a phenomenal offensive effort with 15 points, seven assists, two rebounds and a steal in 34 minutes while Conroy had 15 points, three assists and two steals.

The Lady Raiders return to action at 4 p.m. on Monday with a road contest at Fairmont State.