Freshman Ariel Jones scored a career-high 36 points Saturday to lead a group of three Raiders in double figures as the Shippensburg University women's basketball team posted its third road victory of the season with an 85-78 triumph at Mercyhurst in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) matchup at the Mercyhurst Athletic Center.
 
Shippensburg (5-16, 4-11 PSAC) was facing Mercyhurst (9-13, 7-9) for the first time since last year's NCAA Tournament in which the Lakers posted a 63-51 victory over the Raiders. On Saturday, SU committed just 11 turnovers – its second-fewest in a game this season – while shooting 23-of-29 (79 percent) from the free-throw line.
 
The Raiders trailed 17-5 with 4:25 left in the first quarter and shook off a 10-point deficit after the opening 10 minutes by unleashing a 31-point second quarter – the most points scored by the team in any quarter this season. SU was 11-of-14 (78.5 percent) from the field and 9-of-10 (90 percent) from the free-throw line in the quarter, flipping a 10-point deficit into a six-point halftime advantage.
 
Shippensburg opened the third quarter on a 10-3 run and led by as many as 14 points in the second half. The Raiders finished the game shooting 46 percent from the field. Mercyhurst made 12 three-pointers compared to SU's two, but committed 20 turnovers in the contest.
 
Jones reached her career high despite scoring just one point in the first quarter. She scored 17 points in the fourth quarter and 12 points in the second quarter to achieve her third career 30-point game. Jones, the PSAC leader in made free throws and free-throw attempts, finished 14-of-16 at the charity stripe to add to her totals.
 
Senior Victoria Blackburn was tremendous, posting her second career 20-point game by totaling 21 points on 9-of-14 shooting. Blackburn had a career-high seven rebounds while tying a career high with six assists. She completed all of her production despite fouling out with 2:25 remaining.
 
Blackburn has now posted nine or more points in 12 of the last 13 games, and recorded three or more assists in eight of the last nine games.
 
Freshman Kryshell Gordy scored 13 points on 5-of-8 shooting to go along with seven rebounds and three steals. Senior Kristin McGeough added nine points and four rebounds. Freshman Kasey Engle scored six points, tied a career high with seven rebounds, and had three steals.
 
Shippensburg continues its road trip at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday at Millersville.