SHIPPENBURG, Pa. – The Shippensburg women's basketball team lost its Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) opener Friday afternoon to IUP, 65-50, at Heiges Field House.
 
Shippensburg (1-5) started strong defensively as IUP (4-1) turned the ball over on three of its first four possessions. Two assists and a layup by graduate Treasure George, and a second-chance basket by freshman Alexis Buie gave the Raiders an early 9-3 advantage.
 
IUP came storming back with a 9-0 run in 90 seconds to take a 12-9 lead with 4:47 remaining. Sophomore Ellie Goodwin responded with the next four points to retake the lead. Free throws from Buie gave the Raiders a 17-15 lead, but a three by the Crimson Hawks in the finals seconds capped off an entertaining first quarter at 18-17.
 
Both sides traded baskets through the first three minutes of the second quarter as the Crimson Hawks held a 25-21 advantage. Down six points with 4:19 remaining, a three-pointer by junior Taja Colbert helped to cut the deficit to three.
 
It was the final four minutes of the second half that proved decisive, however, as a 7-0 IUP run gave the Crimson Hawks their biggest lead to that point at 36-27. A basket on the Raiders final possession sent the game to half with SU down 36-29. 
 
IUP finished the first half 7-of-14 from three-point range and overall shot 54 percent from the field. The Raiders shot 32 percent in the half but were 8-of-11 from the free-throw line. SU outrebounded IUP 20-14 in the half, grabbing nine offensive rebounds.
 
The Crimson Hawks pulled away with a big third quarter, scoring the first 18 points as they held the Raiders to just two points to take a 52-31 lead. Shippensburg cut the deficit down to 13 points with six minutes remaining.
 
Freshman Bella Chimienti led the Raiders with 11 points, her second game in double figures and two points shy of her career high. Colbert had seven points and equaled her career high with six rebounds. Buie finished with six points and five rebounds. SU committed a season-low 14 turnovers but shot a season-low 30 percent from the field.
 
IUP finished 10-of-25 (40 percent) from three-point range and got 15 points each from Janeira Scott and Rahmena Henderson. Nyshae' Weaver had eight points and a game-high 11 rebounds.
 
SU returns to action tomorrow at 1 p.m. tomorrow as the Raiders host Seton Hill at Heiges Field House.