SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. – The Shippensburg University women's basketball team used a 9-1 run over the final 1:16 of the second quarter on Wednesday to take a 14-point lead into halftime, and the Raiders led by double digits the rest of the way in a 76-63 win over Kutztown in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division matchup from Heiges Field House.
 
Shippensburg (12-6, 9-3 PSAC) snapped a four-game losing streak to Kutztown (11-7, 8-4) by equaling a season high in shooting 80 percent (20-of-25) from the free-throw line, scoring a season-high 24 second-chance points, and out-rebounding the Golden Bears by eight (49-41).
 
The Raiders got 30 points from junior Ariel Jones – all of which came in the first three quarters – and a terrific performance off the bench from sophomore Lauren Pettis, who had a season-high 14 points, nine rebounds, and a career-high five blocks.
 
Jones achieved her fifth 30-point game of the season and the 19th of her career. She finished the night with four rebounds and three steals. Jones was 3-of-6 from three-point range and 9-of-11 from the free-throw line. Her performance brings her to 1,700 career points – she moved past Janette Pieczynski (1,681 points) to reach seventh all-time in school history.
 
Pettis was 5-of-7 from the field in her near double-double, finishing 4-of-6 at the free-throw line and with seven offensive rebounds. Her career-high five blocks are the second most by a Raider this season, as junior Kryshell Gordy had six in the win over Holy Family. Pettis scored eight of her 14 points and was 3-of-3 from the field in the second quarter.
 
Junior Destiny Jefferson was the third Raider in double figures, finishing with 10 points, six rebounds and five assists. Jefferson capped off her night with a steal on the defensive end that transitioned into an and-one layup with 3:14 to play.
 
Sophomore Lauren Mills had nine points, four rebounds, two assists and a block. Fellow sophomore Aunbrielle Green had seven points, a game-high 11 rebounds and two assists.
 
The Raiders shot just 34 percent from the field and survived some foul trouble, as both Mills and Gordy fouled out in the fourth quarter. SU's defense limited Kutztown to just 35 percent from the field and 26 percent from three-point range (5-of-19); the Golden Bears entered the game ranked second in the PSAC in three-pointers per game.
 
SU remains in a tie for first place in the Eastern Division with East Stroudsburg; the Raiders hold the tiebreaker currently with a head-to-head victory over the Warriors, but the teams will play again on Feb. 1 to cap the season series.
 
Shippensburg travels to Lock Haven this weekend for a 1 p.m. clash with the Bald Eagles from Thomas Fieldhouse.