Box Score

MANSFIELD, Pa. – A convincing offensive performance in the first half and a near triple-double from junior forward Kasey Gardner on Saturday afternoon from Decker Gymnasium helped the Shippensburg University women's basketball team build a 20-point halftime lead and earn a convincing wire-to-wire victory on the road at Mansfield, 73-53.

Shippensburg (11-13, 4-4 PSAC East) got on the board early and often - hitting 5-of-6 attempts from three-point range to start the game. Gardner's three-pointer at the 12:43 mark of the first half put the Lady Raiders ahead by a 19-6 margin and the team led by as many as 25 points in the opening frame. SU's defense also kept the Mountaineers in single digits on the scoreboard for the first 14:14 of the contest.

The scoring pace never relented from the Lady Raiders, who shot 44 percent from the floor, 43 percent from three-point range and 87 percent from the free-throw line in the game. SU was efficient across the board, compiling 23 assists compared to just 15 turnovers and grabbing 45 rebounds. The assist total is just one short of the season high recorded in the 80-44 victory over Bloomsburg on January 27.

The story of the game though was Gardner, who finished with arguably her best performance as a Lady Raider. She tied her career high with 28 points (making 5-of-8 from three-point range), grabbed 10 rebounds for her fifth double-double of the season and tallied a career-high eight assists. Gardner had 11 points by the 13-minute mark of the first half and tallied 18 points by halftime.

Senior forward Lauren Beckley continued her All-American pace with 21 points and 12 rebounds for another double-double - her third consecutive, tenth overall this season and 56th of her career. Beckley has now moved into the PSAC's Top 10 list for career rebounds with 1,078 to her credit and inched within five three-pointers of Tracy Spencer's school record.

Several other players contributed key performances for the Lady Raiders. Senior guard Sheila Wasser had seven points, four rebounds and two assists while sophomore center Jenn Morrow added eight points off the bench and was 4-of-5 from the field. Sophomore guard Erin Varley hit a three-pointer and had four assists.

Mansfield (4-15, 1-6 PSAC East) got 18 points, nine rebounds, three assists and three steals from Nicole Pender. Mallory Hafer added 12 points and Mallory Moore scored 10 points. The Mountaineers shot 32 percent from the field.

Shippensburg concludes its three-game road trip at 6 p.m. Wednesday from Pucillo Gymnasium in a battle with first-place Millersville. 

Notes: The team was once again limited to just nine players because of injuries affecting the lineup...Beckley is now 59 points short of the PSAC scoring record...Shippensburg versus Mansfield was the only Eastern Division game played on Saturday...the other divisional contests were pushed to either Sunday or Monday due to the snow...the Lady Raiders will remain in Mansfield overnight due to the blizzard affecting the Mid-Atlantic region and will travel back to campus on Sunday when the roads permit travel.