The Shippensburg University women's basketball team used a 9-2 run over the final 4:55 on Saturday to pull away from host Lock Haven, defeating the Bald Eagles by a 71-60 score in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division matchup from Thomas Fieldhouse.
 
Shippensburg (13-6, 10-3 PSAC) overcame 21 turnovers, its second-highest total of the season, by posting season bests at the free-throw line (14-of-16, 87.5 percent) and from three-point range (7-of-13, 53.8 percent). The Raiders forced 20 turnovers of their own and limited Lock Haven (10-8, 7-6) to 37 percent shooting from the field.
 
There were two pivotal sequences for the Raiders. Junior Ariel Jones drained a three-pointer at the third-quarter buzzer and junior Destiny Jefferson opened the fourth quarter with a three-pointer of her own, which gave the Raiders a 54-47 lead. Until that point, neither team had led by more than five points.
 
Entering the final four minutes, Shippensburg held a four-point lead. Jones made a jumper, and then on the next possession, drove baseline and dished out to sophomore Lauren Mills for a wide-open three-pointer. On LHU's ensuing possession. Jones stole the ball from the Bald Eagle point guard and raced up the floor for an uncontested lay-up, capping a 7-0 run that made it 69-58 in SU's favor with 2:29 left.
 
Jones finished with 24 points, marking her thirteenth 20-point game of the season and the 51st of her career. She was 7-of-14 from the field, including 2-of-5 from three-point range, and a perfect 8-of-8 at the free-throw line. Jones also had a team-high four assists to go along with four rebounds and three steals.
 
Jefferson scored 13 points on 5-of-9 shooting to complement four rebounds and three assists. Mills had 10 points, including 2-of-4 from three-point range, and four rebounds. It's the fourth time in her career that Mills has made two three-pointers in a game.
 
Junior Kryshell Gordy had seven points, a team-high 10 rebounds and three assists. Freshman Treasure George hit three-pointers on back-to-back possessions in the first half to finish with six points; it's the second time this season she made multiple three-pointers in a game.
 
Sophomore Lauren Pettis had seven rebounds off the bench for the Raiders. In a battle of the Top 2 rebounding teams in the conference, the Raiders emerged with a +7 advantage on the glass (39-32).
 
Lock Haven got 21 points from Marena Lonardi and 17 points and five assists from Taylor Leidy. Ahnera Parker came off the bench and contributed 14 points.
 
The victory is the fifth straight for the Raiders, who moved into sole possession of first place in the PSAC Eastern Division after East Stroudsburg lost at Gannon on Saturday. There are nine games remaining in the regular season.
 
Shippensburg remains on the road for its next game, a 5:30 p.m. Wednesday clash with Shepherd from the Butcher Athletic Center.