Box Score

KUTZTOWN, Pa. - Junior forward Kasey Gardner led a group of three Lady Raiders in double figures on Saturday afternoon with a game-high 21 points but the Shippensburg women's basketball team could not overcome a slow start from Keystone Hall by dropping a PSAC Eastern Division contest to Kutztown, 82-65.

Shippensburg (8-12, 1-3 PSAC East) had solid contributions from a score of players but simply got behind early, as the hosts shot 47 percent from the field and drained six three-pointers in the opening period en route to an 18-point lead at the intermission. SU trailed by as many as 30 points in the second half and cut that deficit to as few as 12 points but could not get any closer.

Senior Lauren Beckley had 15 points and eight rebounds for Shippensburg and is now just four points shy of Lock Haven's Tina Martin, who is currently in fourth place on the PSAC's all-time scoring list. Beckley continues to fight a bad back and constant double teams from each opponent as she nears the conference record for career points.

Redshirt freshman Caitlin Bamberger had the best game of her young career and recorded her first career double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds. She has emerged as an integral post player for the Lady Raiders. Over her last six games, Bamberger has totaled 35 points and 36 rebounds while getting to the free-throw line more than any other SU player besides Gardner, converting 17-of-25 attempts.

In addition to her 21 points, Gardner continued her stellar work with four assists, three rebounds and two steals. She was on fire from distance, hitting 4-of-6 from behind the three-point line and keyed a Shippensburg effort that finished 9-of-18 (50 percent) overall from behind the stripe.

Freshman guard Kerry Conroy, who has been battling illness for over a week, tied her career high with seven assists against the Golden Bears while committing just three turnovers. She also had eight points, five rebounds and two assists in 30 minutes of action.

Kutztown (12-5, 3-1 PSAC East) had five players score in double figures and were led by 19 points from Meliisa McQuade. The Golden Bears shot 50 percent from the field and were 9-of-21 from three-point range in the contest while making 15-of-19 from the free-throw line.

Shippensburg returns home at 6 p.m. Wednesday from Heiges Field House to face Bloomsburg.