SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. – The Shippensburg University women's basketball team used another decisive first quarter on Wednesday night to match its longest winning streak in 15 years, as the Raiders bested visiting UPJ, 76-45, in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) crossover from Heiges Field House.
 
Shippensburg (15-5, 10-4 PSAC) out-scored UPJ (7-13, 3-11) by a 21-7 margin after the first quarter, with senior Lauren Gold posting assists on each of the first five made field goals by the team in the contest. SU led by 20 points at halftime, as the Raiders had more points off turnovers through the first 20 minutes (17) than the visitors had total points (15).
 
Wednesday's game marked the seventh straight in which Shippensburg has held a lead of nine or more points after the first quarter. SU has out-scored its opponents in the first quarter by an average of 12.3 points over the last seven games (149-62), as opponents have averaged just 8.9 points in the first quarter over that stretch of play.
 
Gold's efficiency from the point Wednesday (11 points, season-high eight assists, zero turnovers in 22 minutes) guided a Raider offense that shot 55 percent from the field and committed a season-low eight turnovers. SU has now posted a positive or even assist-to-turnover ratio in nine consecutive games during the 10-game winning streak.
 
Graduate Stephanie Knauer led four Raiders in double figures with 14 points on 6-of-9 shooting. Knauer added five rebounds, two assists and two blocks. Seniors Colleen Young and Logan Snyder each had 11 points, with Snyder contributing four assists and four steals as well.
 
Senior Morgan Griffith was held to just four points on 1-of-5 shooting but did pace the Raiders with seven rebounds.
 
Shippensburg tied a season-high with 25 bench points. Senior Haley Scullion had eight points on 4-of-6 shooting, while junior Kristin McGeough matched a season high with eight points on 3-of-4 shooting. Senior Chanice Lee had six points and three rebounds, while junior Victoria Blackburn returned to action with two points and three assists.
 
During its current 10-game winning streak, Shippensburg is out-scoring opponents by 20.9 points per game. SU has won each game by double digits while limiting the opposition to just 52.0 points per game during the run.
 
For the season, the Raiders are now 11-0 when holding the opposition to less than 60 points, and 10-1 in games they score at least 70 points.
 
Shippensburg hits the road this weekend, beginning the second half of its PSAC Eastern Division schedule with a 1 p.m. contest at Millersville.