SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. – The Shippensburg University women's basketball team limited Shepherd to 35-percent shooting and forced 22 turnovers Wednesday night in defeating the visiting Rams, 69-59, in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division matchup at Heiges Field House.
 
Shippensburg (20-7, 17-4 PSAC) clinched the PSAC Eastern Division title and secured a 20-win season with Wednesday's victory, marking the first time the Raiders have achieved each feat since the 2016-17 season. It is the tenth season of 20 or more wins in school history.
 
The Raiders and Shepherd (19-8, 13-8) entered Wednesday as the Top 2 scoring offenses in the PSAC, but neither team was particularly effective from the field. The Rams shot 19 percent (4-of-21) from three-point range and were shooting 29.4 percent overall entering the fourth quarter.
 
Shippensburg overcame a season-low four assists and a 28-percent shooting night by making 27-of-35 (77 percent) from free-throw line. The Raiders also recorded 10 blocks – their most in a game in more than 18 years (10 blocks vs. Pitt-Johnstown on Nov. 28, 2001).
 
Junior Ariel Jones led all players with 32 points, her eighth 30-point game of the year. Jones made all four SU three-pointers on the night and was a season-best 14-of-16 at the free-throw line. She also had eight rebounds and three steals and equaled a career high with three blocks.
 
Jones, the nation's active leader in career scoring average and career free throws, posted double figures for the 80th time in her career. She has been held to single digits in points just twice in her career.
 
Shippensburg totaled 51 rebounds, surpassing 50 rebounds in a game for the fourth time this season. The Raiders out-rebounded the Rams by 10, and have won the rebounding battle in 23-of-27 games this season.
 
Junior Kryshell Gordy grabbed 10 rebounds, her eighth double-digit rebounding game of the season, to complement nine points, two steals and three blocks. Sophomore Aunbrielle Green led the Raiders with 12 rebounds – her eighth double-digit rebounding game of the season – to go along with six points (4-of-5 at the free-throw line) and two blocks.
 
Junior Destiny Jefferson had seven points and three rebounds. Sophomore Lauren Mills had six points and two rebounds.
 
Sophomore Lauren Pettis grabbed eight rebounds off the bench; she finished with four points. Freshman Treasure George scored five points.
 
Shepherd led for much of the first half, but an 8-2 run over the final four minutes of the first half gave the Raiders a 31-27 lead entering the intermission. The Rams tied the score early in the third quarter but were never able to retake the lead. Abby Beeman led the visitors with 25 points, while Sydney Clayton had a double-double with 15 points and 14 rebounds.
 
Shippensburg concludes the regular season at 1 p.m. Saturday at Kutztown. The Raiders will then host a PSAC Quarterfinal at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday at Heiges Field House.