SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. – The Shippensburg University women's basketball team held visiting Kutztown to 18 first-half points on Saturday as the Raiders never trailed en route to a 65-52 victory over the Golden Bears in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division showdown at Heiges Field House.
 
Shippensburg (9-2, 6-2 PSAC) and Kutztown (6-4, 4-4) entered as the No. 1 and No. 2 teams in the division, but it was the Raiders who opened on a 9-2 run over the game's first six minutes and never looked back. SU held a 36-18 halftime advantage and limited the visitors to 26-percent shooting, including just 21 percent (7-of-34) in the first half.
 
The Raiders thrived on high-percentage shooting Saturday, making just one three-pointer, but scoring 44 of its 65 points in the paint. SU had a 44-16 advantage over Kutztown in the paint, with junior Morgan Griffith contributing her fifth double-double of the year with 20 points and 15 rebounds. It was also Griffith who hit SU's lone three-pointer of the game.
 
Junior Colleen Young was the only other Raider in double figures, scoring 11 points on 4-of-6 shooting, while SU's three remaining starters each scored eight points. Junior Logan Snyder remained stout defensively, grabbing five rebounds, handing out four assists and drawing multiple charges. Junior Lauren Gold added five rebounds, while junior Haley Scullion grabbed four boards and had three assists.
 
Senior Shaniece Jackson had another solid effort off the bench, providing four points, four rebounds and an assist in 11 minutes. Sophomore Vicky Tumasz had two points and three rebounds.
 
SU had nine of its 11 players finish the game with at least one assist. The Raiders led by as many as 23 points with 7:24 to play. Saturday's win also gave SU its first 9-2 start in 14 years (2001-02; 10-2).
 
Shippensburg shot 46 percent from the field, including 50 percent in the first half. The Raiders are second in the league in field-goal percentage, shooting 45 percent from the floor through 11 games. SU is also fifth in field-goal defense (38.8).
 
Shippensburg hosts Shepherd at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, December 30, at Heiges Field House. An online audio broadcast of the game will be available on for those who cannot attend at http://mixlr.com/shipraiders.