The Shippensburg University women's basketball team suffered its first loss of the 2015-2016 season Saturday at Mercyhurst, 67-65, in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) crossover game that was close from start to finish.
 
Shippensburg (3-1, 1-1 PSAC) had to combat foul trouble with its starters all afternoon in a game that featured 47 personal fouls combined between the two teams. Starting guards, junior Logan Snyder and junior Lauren Gold, both fouled out.
 
Starting forwards, senior Stephanie Knauer and junior Morgan Griffith, finished with four fouls each.
 
SU took a four-point lead into the half, and extended that lead to seven in the third quarter. The Lakers responded with an 8-0 run to take a one-point lead and the teams went back and forth from there.
 
Mercyhurst (1-3, 1-1 PSAC) appeared to be pulling away as it took a 63-57 advantage with just under four and a half minutes left. This time it was the Raiders who answered with a 6-0 run to tie the game at 63-63 with 2:13 remaining.
 
Shippensburg had multiple chances to take the lead, but could not do so. The Lakers eventually took a 66-63 lead with three foul shots. A Snyder layup with 35 seconds brought SU within one, but the Raiders could not secure a defensive rebound on a missed foul shot and then turned it over on their final possession.  
 
Despite fouling out, Snyder had a fine game, finishing with a game-high 18 points on 9-of-12 shooting. The junior made her first six shots consecutively.
 
Junior Colleen Young recorded 12 points and six rebounds while Knauer checked in with 11 points on 5-of-7 shooting.
 
Freshman Gabriela Blackburn scored eight of her season-high nine points in the first half. She made 7-of-8 attempts from the free throw line.
 
Shippensburg continues its PSAC West swing tomorrow at Gannon with a 1 p.m. start.