SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. – The Shippensburg University women's basketball team rallied in the second half on Saturday but not overcome an early deficit to visiting Clarion, dropping a 65-59 decision to the Golden Eagles in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) matchup from Heiges Field House.
 
Shippensburg (1-8, 0-4 PSAC) out-scored Clarion (4-4, 1-3) by nine points in the second half, totaling 43 points over the final 20 minutes. SU trailed 31-16 at the intermission and by as many as 16 points in the game, but the Raiders got back in it by shooting 54 percent from the field (7-of-13) and also making all seven of its free-throw attempts in the third quarter.
 
SU started the fourth quarter on a 7-0 run to get within one point of the Golden Eagles, 46-45. A three-pointer by freshman Ariel Jones with 1:07 remaining once again got the Raiders within one point, 57-56, but Clarion closed on an 8-3 run in which it made 8-of-10 at the free-throw line.
 
After a first half that featured just eight total free-throw attempts, the two teams combined for 43 free-throw attempts in the second half. In the fourth quarter alone, SU and CU combined for 30 free-throw attempts. Shippensburg finished 20-of-23 (87 percent) from the free-throw line – its second-best rate of the season – while Clarion was 21-of-28 (75 percent) at the free-throw line.
 
Jones scored 22 points, making 8-of-9 from the free-throw line, to go along with a career-high eight rebounds. Jones also hit a pair of three-pointers, playing all 40 minutes in Sunday's game.
 
Senior Kristin McGeough added her second double-double in as many days, totaling 10 points, 13 rebounds and three blocks. McGeough now has three career double-doubles (all this season); her 28 rebounds in two games this weekend are the most in any two-game stretch of her career.
 
Senior Victoria Blackburn scored 17 points – just one off her career high – to go along with three assists, three blocks, three steals and two rebounds. Blackburn was 6-of-6 from the free-throw line and also hit a three-pointer. It is the 11th double-digit scoring performance of her career and second this season.
 
Clarion got a game-high 23 points from Amesha Harden-Pullium, who made 12-of-14 at the free-throw line. Jordan Bekelja added 19 points on 5-of-7 shooting and 6-of-6 at the free-throw line. The visitors also totaled 16 points off turnovers.
 
Shippensburg hosts California (Pa.) at 1 p.m. Saturday.