By: By: Bill Morgal, Interim Sports Information Director
Box Score
EAST STROUDSBURG, Pa. - The Shippensburg women's basketball team built a seven-point halftime lead on Thursday night from Koehler Fieldhouse and then produced a 26-6 run midway through the second half to take control in the opening game of the 45th Annual Pocono Classic and ultimately defeat East Stroudsburg in a non-league contest, 77-67.
Shippensburg (4-2) was led offensively by senior
Lauren Beckley, who delivered 23 points while shooting 5-of-6 from the field and converting 12-of-13 attempts from the free-throw line. Junior forward
Kasey Gardner added 15 points, eight rebounds, three steals and three assists.
The contest was a bit chippy, as the officials whistled 50 combined fouls while the teams combined for 50 turnovers and 74 free-throw attempts in game. In all, the Lady Raiders converted 27-of-40 from the charity stripe, marking the most free-throw attempts for Shippensburg in a 63-game span dating back to Feb. 19, 2007. The made free throws also ties the Pocono Classic record for the most in a game, a feat also achieved by Shippensburg in 1988 and East Stroudsburg in 1989.
SU also dominated the glass, posting a 42-26 advantage in rebounds. Five players had at least four rebounds in the contest, including seven each from freshmen
Kerry Conroy and
Isabel Scott. The Lady Raiders also tallied 17 offensive rebounds in the game.
For the second straight game, nine different players scored for Shippensburg. Freshman guard
Morgan Taylor delivered seven points, six assists, five rebounds and two steals, while Conroy, Scott and sophomore
Kaitlin Capriccio each totaled six points.
East Stroudsburg (0-4) trailed by as many as 24 points in the second half. The Warriors cut their deficit to 10 points after a late 16-2 run and then got within eight points after hitting four free throws following the fifth foul whistled on Gardner and a technical foul that was assessed to the bench. SU hit 4-of-6 free throws in the final minute to cement the victory.
The Lady Raiders will face Salem International tomorrow at 5 p.m. from East Stroudsburg.
