The Shippensburg University women's basketball team could not maintain a double-digit halftime lead on Monday night, dropping a 66-51 decision at Kutztown in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division game at Keystone Arena.
Shippensburg (7-5, 3-3 PSAC) shot 10-of-15 from the field in the first quarter and held a 25-15 lead through the first 10 minutes. SU stretched its lead to 11 points, 41-30, at halftime. The Raiders shot 50 percent from the field in the first half.
Kutztown (13-3, 6-1) countered with a 16-3 run to start the second half and took a 46-44 lead with 1:48 left in the third quarter. SU managed to lead 49-48 after three quarters, but the Golden Bears held the Raiders to 10 second-half points to claim victory.
Shippensburg committed just four turnovers in the first half and took advantage of 10 KU turnovers by scoring nine points off the fast break. The Golden Bears adjusted their defense in the second half and forced eight SU turnovers while committing just three of their own down the stretch.
Junior
Aunbrielle Green led the Raiders with 17 points and was 5-of-6 in the first half. Green finished with a team-high seven rebounds and had two blocks. She was 5-of-6 at the free-throw line.
Senior
Destiny Jefferson added 10 points and led the Raiders with four steals. She also added four assists and four rebounds. Junior
Lauren Mills was the third Raider with double-digit points with 10 points. Mills had three rebounds and a steal. Freshman
Taja Colbert added seven points, four assists and four rebounds.
Kutztown finished with a 45-32 advantage in rebounds and an 8-3 edge in blocks. The Golden Bears got 18 points from Naia Pullman, as both teams' leading scorers on the night came off the bench. Abbey Hearn had 15 points, nine rebounds and four blocks.
Shippensburg, who had its last three contests postponed due to COVID-19-related health and safety procedure with its scheduled opponents, was playing its first game since December 19, a span of 22 days.
SU is back in action at 6 p.m. Wednesday at Mansfield.
