SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. – The Shippensburg women's basketball team won its 15th consecutive game Saturday and clinched a first-round bye for the conference tournament as it downed Mansfield, 71-56, in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division matchup on "Play 4 Kay" Day from Heiges Field House.
The victory for Shippensburg (20-5, 15-4 PSAC) secures the longest winning streak for the team under head coach
Kristy Trn. The Raiders had previously won 14 straight under Trn during the 2000-01 season. The winning streak is the second-longest in school history (SU won 20 consecutive games in 1997-98).
The Raiders were led by their forwards Saturday as graduate
Stephanie Knauer totaled 18 points and 12 rebounds – her first double-double of the season. Knauer's 18-point effort Saturday moved her into eighth all-time on the SU scoring list, passing her former assistant coach Jen Scaffidi Grassel. Senior
Morgan Griffith dominated the third quarter, scoring 14 of her 16 points in the frame. She added nine rebounds to her line in just 23 minutes as she was in foul trouble for much of the first half.
Senior
Logan Snyder put forth another balanced effort as she scored 11 points while grabbing six rebounds, issuing a team-high four assists and tying her career high with four steals. Senior
Lauren Gold added 11 points, including both of SU's three-point makes.
The Raiders shot just 40 percent from the field for the game – eight percentage points below their season average – but made up for it by making 33 trips to the free throw line with 25 makes. The SU defensive effort was again outstanding, limiting Mansfield to 32.1 percent shooting. The Raiders have allowed more than 60 points just once since Dec. 16.
The win means that SU has clinched a bye in the first round of the PSAC Tournament. With a win Wednesday at West Chester, SU will clinch the PSAC East title. The Raiders have now won 20 games in back-to-back seasons and for the fifth time under Trn.
Wednesday's game at Hollinger Field House against the Rams will begin at 5:30 p.m.
