INDIANA, Pa. – Senior Kasey Gardner posted her third double-double of the season on Sunday afternoon with 15 points and 14 rebounds from Memorial Field House but the Shippensburg University women's basketball team dropped a nail-biter to California (Pa.), 59-54 at the Susan G. Komen Shoot for the Cure Classic.

Shippensburg (3-4) trailed by nine points with 10 minutes remaining but rallied thanks to its continued success at the free-throw line, making six straight attempts during the next two minutes. A jumper and a three-pointer by freshman Ashley Giedemann got the Lady Raiders within three points, 47-44, with 6:25 remaining.

SU entered the final two minutes of play trailing by four points, 52-48. Gardner sank a three-pointer with 95 seconds left on the clock, and sophomore guard Dana Wert answered a Cal miss by converting a three-point play to put the Lady Raiders up by two points with 46 seconds to go.

California (5-2) responded with a three-point play of its own to take the lead, 55-54, with 39 seconds left. The Lady Raiders got three possessions in the final 30 seconds to either tie the game or take the lead, but could not convert with a bucket.

Giedemann finished with 10 points and four rebounds, while Dana Wert had seven points, six rebounds and five assists. Redshirt freshman Raediah Lyles had a career-high eight points and two rebounds in 14 minutes of work.

Shippensburg returns to the floor on Wednesday, December 29 with a 1 p.m. home game against Merrimack.