SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. – The Shippensburg University women's basketball team battled No. 11-ranked California (Pa.) on Saturday but not overcome the defensive pressure of the visitors, dropping a 65-56 decision to the Vulcans in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) matchup from Heiges Field House.
 
Shippensburg (1-9, 0-5 PSAC) had four players score nine or more points in the contest. Senior Kristin McGeough led the Raiders with 13 points on 6-of-10 shooting, and had seven rebounds. Fellow senior Victoria Blackburn had 12 points, while freshman Ariel Jones added 10 points, all coming in the second half.
 
Freshman Kasey Engle delivered a strong performance off the bench with nine points and five rebounds, making 5-of-6 at the free-throw line. Fellow freshman Kryshell Gordy put forth an admirable defensive effort against Cal's Shatara Parsons, and finished with a team-high nine rebounds.
 
California (8-1, 5-0) used a pair of runs to sway the balance in the middle of the contest. The Vulcans used a 13-4 run over the final 4:04 of the first half to transform a 19-18 game into a 32-22 lead at the intermission. Coming out of halftime, Cal used a 7-0 run over the first 2:35 of the third quarter to build its largest lead of 17 points, 39-22.
 
The Raiders did not relent, embarking on a 12-1 run late in the third quarter to make it 43-39 in Cal's favor. After a Vulcan fourth-quarter surge, SU used a 7-0 run in the final two minutes to get within six points, 60-54, with 40 seconds remaining.
 
Shippensburg could not overcome a season-high 31 turnovers, from which California scored 35 points. The Vulcans got 24 points and nine rebounds from junior transfer Mia Cushon, along with 12 points, 10 rebounds and six steals from Parsons.

Shippensburg returns to action next weekend when it travels to Liberty for an exhibition on Saturday. In nine days. SU will travels south to face Shepherd at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, December 18.