The Shippensburg University women's basketball team overcame an 11-point deficit in the second half on Sunday to force overtime and ultimately achieve its first victory of the season, a 73-70 triumph over Charleston in a road non-conference matchup from the Wehrle Arena.
 
Shippensburg (1-5) got a career-high 34 points from freshman Ariel Jones, who was 9-of-15 from the field (3-of-6 from three-point range) and 13-of-16 from the free-throw line. Jones' 34 points are the most in a single game by a Raider since Sarah Strybuc had 36 points at Pitt-Johnstown on Dec. 17, 2013.
 
Freshman Kasey Engle had 11 points, making 6-of-6 at the free-throw line. She was 4-of-4 from the free-throw line in the final 1:16 of overtime, and also drew multiple charges in the final 15 minutes that resulted in offensive fouls. Freshman Kryshell Gordy nearly had another double-double, finishing with 10 points, nine rebounds and two assists while shooting 4-of-5 from the field.
 
Senior Kristin McGeough had nine points and seven rebounds, shooting 4-of-8 from the field. Redshirt-sophomore Gabriela Blackburn contributed seven points, six rebounds and four assists – making a pair of three-pointers in the contest.
 
Charleston (3-2) built a 45-34 lead with six minutes remaining in the third quarter, but the Raiders closed the frame on a 10-2 run to get within three points of the Golden Eagles, 47-44, entering the final 10 minutes.
 
SU trailed by eight points with 7:47 remaining, and by six points with 2:39 remaining, but clawed its way back and equaled the score on a Jones lay-up with seven seconds left in regulation. The Golden Eagles missed a pair of shots in the final three seconds, sending the game to overtime.
 
The Raiders scored the first five points of overtime – three by Jones and a lay-up by Gordy. Leading by one point with 2:43 left in the extra session, Jones traded a pair of layups with the Golden Eagles. Engle hit two free throws to put SU up by three points with 1:16 left, and a subsequent turnover allowed Jones to make 1-of-2 at the line.
 
With 11 seconds left, Engle hit two more free throws to put SU up by four. A UC lay-up, and a 1-of-2 trip to the line for the Raiders allowed the Golden Eagles a chance to tie with three seconds remaining, but a final heave from about 30 feet was no good.
 
Shippensburg returns home at 7 p.m. Tuesday to host Goldey-Beacom in a non-conference matchup from Heiges Field House.