SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. – The Shippensburg University women's basketball team could not overcome a 27-point first quarter by Mercyhurst on Saturday, as the visiting Lakers established an early lead it would not relinquish in a 79-74 defeat of the Raiders in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) matchup from Heiges Field House.
 
Shippensburg (6-7, 3-3 PSAC) out-scored Mercyhurst (5-7, 2-3) in each of the last three quarters but could never fully shake the 10-point deficit it accrued after the first 10 minutes of play. SU matched a season low in committing just 13 turnovers, but shot just a season-low 8.3 percent (1-of-12) from three-point range and was out-rebounded for just the third time this season (42-40).
 
Sophomore Ariel Jones led all scorers with 21 points; she also grabbed eight rebounds and tied a career high with six assists. Jones was 9-of-12 at the free-throw line but 0-of-6 from three-point range. She has now recorded eight or more rebounds in three of her last four games after doing so just twice through her first 36 games.
 
Freshman Lauren Mills achieved a new career high with 17 points, shooting 50 percent from the field including a three-pointer on her lone attempt from long range. Mills equaled a career high with five rebounds, had two assists, and was 4-of-5 at the free-throw line.
 
Freshman Aunbrielle Green recorded her fifth double-double of the season with 17 points and 13 rebounds on 8-of-15 shooting. Green scored 13 of her 17 points in the second half, shooting 6-of-11 from the field after halftime.
 
Sophomore Kryshell Gordy made both of her field-goal attempts to finish with six points, three rebounds and two blocks. Junior Gianna Locker added six points off the bench. Freshman Lauren Pettis was in foul trouble for most of the contest, finishing with three points and six rebounds.
 
Mercyhurst had five players post double figures, led by junior post Amber Renz who scored a team-high 17 points off the bench for the Lakers. MU's three leading scorers, in fact, all came off the bench – as Lauren Lapertosa scored 15 points and Eliza Oswalt scored 14 points. Laker point guard Emily Shopene had 12 points and a game-high seven assists.
 
The Lakers had 17 offensive rebounds on Saturday, which led to a 23-12 edge in second-chance points over the Raiders. MU also scored 19 points off turnovers.
 
Shippensburg shot 76 percent (19-of-25) from the free-throw line – its second-best rate in a game this season. SU has shot 70 percent or better from the free-throw line in five of the last six games after failing to do so in the first six games of the season.

UP NEXT: Saturday, 1 p.m. vs. East Stroudsburg.