SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. – The Shippensburg University women's basketball team could not overcome a sluggish start on Saturday against Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division rival Kutztown, dropping a 67-56 decision to the Golden Bears from Heiges Field House.
 
Shippensburg (4-15, 3-10 PSAC) got 16 points from freshman Ariel Jones, including 12 in the second half, along with 12 points from senior Victoria Blackburn. The Raiders, however, shot just 36 percent in the contest – including just 2-of-15 (15 percent) from three-point range.
 
Kutztown (12-8, 7-7 PSAC) established an eight-point halftime lead and then opened the third quarter on an 8-3 run to build a 13-point advantage, 41-28. KU led by as many as 15 points in the second half, with the Raiders getting to within seven points, 58-51, with 2:00 remaining.
 
Jones was 7-of-8 at the free-throw line in extending her streak of reaching double figures to 19 games to begin her career. Blackburn was 4-of-8 from the field to total at least nine points for the 10th time in the last 11 games. She also tied a career high with five rebounds and added three assists.
 
Senior Kristin McGeough scored seven points and tied for the game high with 12 rebounds. McGeough reached double figures in rebounds for the second straight game and the sixth time this season.
 
Freshman Kryshell Gordy had four points, eight rebounds and two assists. Fellow freshman Kasey Engle scored four points as well.
 
Freshman Lili Benzel scored nine points off the bench, while redshirt-sophomore Gabriela Blackburn contributed four points on 2-of-3 shooting with two assists and two steals.
 
The Golden Bears played in Heiges Field House for the third time this season, having competed in two neutral-site games back in November at the Wolf's Bus Lines Classic. The visitors got 16 points from Taylor Thames and 15 points off the bench from freshman Zoe Zerman. In the first half, Zerman led all scorers with 12 points, including three three-pointers.
 
Shippensburg hosts East Stroudsburg at 6 p.m. Wednesday from Heiges Field House.