Box Score

WEST CHESTER, Pa. – The Shippensburg University women's basketball team put forth the strong effort it needed on Wednesday night from Hollinger Field House in a divisional clash with West Chester, the coaches' top pick in the preseason poll, but the final minute transpired in a manner that resulted in a two-point deficit for the Lady Raiders and a 63-61 victory for the Golden Rams.

Shippensburg (10-13, 3-4 PSAC East), limited to just nine players because of injuries affecting the lineup, controlled the first half with a 15-0 run that helped the Lady Raider accrue a 32-21 halftime advantage. SU stymied the Golden Ram transition game and capitalized on second-chance opportunities.

West Chester (14-6, 4-3 PSAC East) answered with a run of its own before the contest stabilized into a seesaw battle down the stretch. Four minutes into the final frame, the Golden Rams tallied a 10-0 run that trimmed SU's advantage to one point. Over the last 11 minutes of the game, neither team led by more than five points.

With 1:50 to go, sophomore Erin Varley drained a three-pointer to put the Lady Raiders within one point of the lead, 57-56. On the next possession, senior Lauren Beckley was whistled for her fourth foul of the second half but West Chester's Janelle Garber missed the front end of a 1-and-1 free-throw attempt to give the ball back to SU.

Needing a bucket with 1:06 remaining, junior Kasey Gardner delivered with a layup that was assisted by Beckley and Shippensburg took a 58-57 lead. At the other end, Garber got position down low but Beckley could not defend too closely in fear of picking up her fifth foul. Garber, who finished with 22 points to surpass 1,000 for her career, made the layup to put the Golden Rams back up by one point.

The Lady Raiders committed a turnover on the ensuing possession and fell behind by three points with 19 seconds to go. With a chance to tie, Beckley received an in-bounds pass and attempted a three-pointer with eight seconds to go. After a second half that had featured 18 fouls, it was the lack of a whistle that may have been the difference in the tightly contested contest, as Beckley's shot was altered and sent flying off the glass.

West Chester scooped up the rebound and added two more points to its total at the free-throw line. A Beckley three-pointer with a second left on the clock brought Shippensburg within two points but the Lady Raiders were not able to get another possession before the final horn sounded. 

Beckley stepped up as she always does and had a sensational effort, totaling 21 points, 13 rebounds, four assists and three steals in 38 minutes of action without committing a turnover. Gardner added 20 points, three rebounds, three assists and two steals.

Sophomore LIndsay Howard played in a season-high 20 minutes and added five points and four rebounds. Freshman Isabel Scott made her first career start and contributed two points and five rebounds in 18 minutes.

Shippensburg continues its three-game road trip on Saturday from Decker Gymnasium with a 1 p.m. tipoff against Mansfield. SU is currently in fifth place in the PSAC East after Cheyney's two-point loss to Kutztown.