SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. – The Shippensburg University women's basketball team had a highly-competitive game Saturday night against No. 11 IUP, trailing by two points entering the final quarter, but the Raiders ultimately dropped a 69-61 decision to the Crimson Hawks in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) crossover contest from Heiges Field House.

Shippensburg (6-5, 3-2 PSAC) committed just 14 turnovers against an IUP (10-1, 5-0 PSAC) squad that entered the weekend with the nation's No. 4 scoring defense (49.1 PPG), and finished the night scoring 22 points off Crimson Hawk turnovers. The visitors dominated the glass, however, posting a 47-27 rebounding advantage.
 
The Raiders held a one-point lead after the first quarter and a 25-24 lead with 2:47 left in the first half before the Crimson Hawks used an 8-3 run to take a four-point lead into the intermission. After trailing by as many as eight points in the third quarter, Shippensburg battled back to tie the game, and IUP took a 47-45 lead into the fourth quarter.
 
It was a one-point game in IUP's favor, 55-54, with 5:18 remaining. A 5-0 Crimson Hawk run over the next 2:31 created what proved to be an insurmountable deficit, as the Raiders could only get within four points the rest of the way.
 
The Crimson Hawks were 9-of-12 from the free-throw line over the final 93 seconds to clinch the win after attempting just two free throws in the preceding 38 minutes of play. SU shot just 61.9 percent (13-of-21) from the free-throw line in the game.
 
"I'm really happy with where we're at," head coach Kristy Trn said after the game. "We didn't win tonight, but we were in it, and if we correct our mistakes, we can be in a good position."

Junior Ariel Jones led the Raiders with 17 points, six rebounds and two steals. Junior Destiny Jefferson was the only other Raider in double figures, finishing with 14 points to go along with five rebounds and three assists.
 
Sophomore Lauren Mills scored eight points on 3-of-4 shooting, while sophomore Aunbrielle Green had seven points, five rebounds and a career-high four assists.
 
Freshman Fiona Rowan made both of her field-goal attempts of the night – both three-pointers – to finish with six points. Sophomore Lauren Pettis was 2-of-3 from the field for four points; she also had two blocks. Pettis is 8-of-11 (72.7 percent) from the field over the last four games.
 
IUP got a career performance from Justina Mascaro, who went off for 32 points and 11 rebounds. Courtney Alexander added 20 points off the bench. Lexi Griggs, who entered the weekend as the PSAC's most accurate shooter, finished with just six points on 3-of-9 shooting. Natalie Myers, who entered the weekend as the PSAC's most accurate three-point shooter, was 0-for-4 on the night and had just two points in 37 minutes.
 
Shippensburg now enters the mandated holiday break, and will return to practice during New Year's week. SU's next game is on Friday, Jan. 3 at 6 p.m. versus Millersville in the Eastern Division opener from Heiges Field House.
 
"We have made a lot of growth on the defensive side of the ball, and they're really starting to work together and see what they can do offensively when they share the ball and cut to the basket," Trn said. "If we come back from break and continue with that attitude, we're going to put ourselves where we had a goal of being at the end of the year."