SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. – The Shippensburg University women's basketball team could not complete its comeback against division-leading Bloomsburg on Wednesday night despite a 33-point fourth quarter, as the Raiders fell 78-71 to the Huskies in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division matchup from Heiges Field House.
 
Shippensburg (10-11, 6-7 PSAC) got a career-high 38 points from sophomore Ariel Jones, of which 26 points came in the fourth quarter. Over the final 10 minutes, Jones shot 8-of-11 from the field, including 4-of-4 from three-point range, and was 6-of-8 from the free-throw line. She finished the game with five rebounds and two assists.
 
Bloomsburg (14-6, 10-3) did not allow the Raiders to get closer than the final seven-point margin in large part to its free-throw shooting, as the Huskies shot 89 percent (17-of-19) at the free-throw line in the fourth quarter and 80 percent (28-of-35) for the game. Bella Ricci, who paced the visitors with 24 points, was 12-of-14 at the free-throw line.
 
Sophomore Kryshell Gordy had another strong game for the Raiders, narrowly missing a double-double. Gordy had nine points on 4-of-8 shooting, 11 rebounds (including five offensive), and a career-high five steals. It was the seventh time this season that Gordy has recorded double-digit rebounds.
 
Freshman Aunbrielle Green scored 14 points on 7-of-14 shooting to complement four rebounds and two assists. Green scored 10 of her 14 points in the first half, and reached double figures for the 13th time this season.
 
Freshman Lauren Pettis was limited due to foul trouble, but managed four points, three steals and six offensive rebounds. Fellow freshman Lauren Mills added four points, three rebounds and a team-high four assists.
 
Jones has now single-handedly out-scored the opposing team in the fourth quarter in back-to-back games. In her last two games, Jones has scored 45 points in the fourth quarter (26-25 vs. Bloomsburg on Wednesday, 19-15 at West Chester on Saturday). This season, Jones is averaging 17.8 points in the second half – including 10.2 points in the fourth quarter.
 
Additionally, Jones scored 32 of her career-high 38 points in the second half, marking what is believed to be a team record for the modern era. Lauren Beckley scored 30 of her school-record 47 points in the second half of the Feb. 13, 2008 victory at Lock Haven. Beckley also scored 28 points in the second half of a Feb. 20, 2010 victory over Kutztown.
 
For visiting Bloomsburg, junior post Taylor Montana contributed a double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds, while Emma Saxton was a third Husky in double figures with 10 points.
 
UP NEXT: Saturday, 1 p.m. at Kutztown.