The Shippensburg University women's basketball team could not overcome a slow start to the third quarter on Wednesday night as the Raiders dropped a road Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) matchup at Mansfield, 71-54, from Decker Gymnasium.
 
Shippensburg (3-13, 2-8 PSAC) held a one-point halftime advantage, but Mansfield (6-12, 4-8) opened the second half on a 20-4 run in a 5:20 span to flip the script. The Mountaineers led by 14 points at the end of the third quarter and used another 9-1 run to start the fourth quarter to take control.
 
For the Raiders, freshman Kasey Engle tied a career high with 13 points on 4-of-8 shooting to go along with four rebounds and three assists. Fellow freshman Ariel Jones was the only other Raider in double figures Wednesday night, totaling 11 points including a pair of three-pointers.
 
Freshman Lili Benzel scored nine points, while senior Victoria Blackburn had five points and four assists.
 
Senior Kristin McGeough was SU's leading rebounder with seven on the night; she scored six points on 3-of-6 shooting. Freshman Kryshell Gordy had four points and five rebounds.
 
Off the bench, freshman Jazzie Orth had four points and four rebounds while freshman Ireland Pelletier had two points and two rebounds.
 
Free-throw shooting proved pivotal in the game. SU finished just 14-of-25 (56 percent) at the free-throw line, its lowest rate of the season. The Raiders shot just 24 percent from the field in the second half and 32 percent overall in the contest, but did manage a season-high 21 second-chance points and a 41-40 advantage in rebounding.
 
Shippensburg returns to action at 1 p.m. Saturday when it hosts West Chester from Heiges Field House.