By: By Kevin Kline, Sports Information Graduate Assistant
Box Score
KUTZTOWN, Pa. – Powered by five players with at least nine points apiece, the Shippensburg University women's basketball team led by as many as 24 points late in the second half on Wednesday night before taking down Kutztown, 72-63, in a crucial PSAC East battle from Keystone Arena that avenged SU's seven-point December home loss to the Golden Bears.
With the Raiders' (15-6, 11-5 PSAC) win over the Golden Bears (11-9, 9-7), and with Bloomsburg's loss to Millersville on Wednesday night, SU now pulls into a tie with the Huskies for first place in the PSAC East standings.
Senior
Dana Wert led Shippensburg with 17 points on 10-of-12 shooting from the free-throw line and added five rebounds and three blocks. Senior
Shawna Wert was similarly efficient from the free-throw line, shooting 9-of-10 at the stripe to finish with nine points. The Wert twins led SU with five assists each.
Freshman
Stephanie Knauer shot a perfect 5-of-5 from the field, recording 12 points and eight rebounds. Senior
Raediah Lyles and freshman
Caitlyn Deeter each recorded career highs in scoring, with Lyles totaling 11 points, four rebounds and three assists. Deeter went 6-of-10 from the field for 12 points while also adding a career-high seven rebounds.
With eight quick Knauer points that included two successful and-one three-point plays, SU got off to an early 15-7 lead six-and-a-half minutes into the contest. Kutztown, however, used a 14-6 run over the next 5:18 to knot the game at 21-21. The Raiders closed out the half in control, using an 18-6 run to open up a half-high 12-point lead, at 39-27, with 1:35 left before intermission.
Shippensburg used a 13-0 run courtesy of
Dana Wert (seven points) and Deeter (six points) beginning five minutes into the second half to open up a 22-point lead at 60-38 with 11:32 left. The SU lead remained at 20-plus points before a late 14-0 Kutztown run over the last four minutes made the final score a nine-point margin.
The Raiders finish off their three-game road stint on Saturday afternoon with a 1 p.m. matchup at Mansfield.
