SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. – The Shippensburg University women's basketball team could not overcome a late surge by West Chester on Monday night as the Golden Rams extended their winning streak to nine games with an 80-70 victory over the Raiders in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division contest at Heiges Field House.
 
It was the battle between the Top 2 teams in the PSAC East, with Shippensburg (18-4, 13-3 PSAC) at the top, and West Chester (16-7, 13-4) right behind. Not only was it a battle of the Top 2 teams, but it was the battle of the top two guards in the East, senior Ariel Jones and junior Leah Johnson.
 
Shippensburg came out strong in the first quarter, shooting 60 percent from beyond the arc, making 3-of-5 three-pointers, while shooting 50 percent from the field. In the second quarter, West Chester came back aggressive, shooting 62.5 percent from the field and holding the Raiders to 42.9 percent from the field.
 
By halftime, both teams were tied, 36-36. Jones and junior Treasure George had scored 28 of the 36 Raider points. George was 2-of-3 from the arc and 50 percent from the field at halftime, with 11 points, while Jones had 17 points, shooting 2-of-4 from the three-point line and 6-of-12 from the field.
 
To start the second half, SU paced the third quarter and outscored WCU 17-13, but it was the fourth quarter that made all the difference. The Raiders missed a free throw with 2:44 remaining, and West Chester responded with a 9-0 run to pull away.
 
The Golden Rams outscored the Raiders 31-17 in the final frame, with Johnson scoring 13 points in the fourth quarter. WCU outscored Shippensburg in bench points, 18-0, and out-rebounded SU, 45-34.
 
Jones ended the night with 36 points, her sixth 30+ point game this season. She added six rebounds, two assists, a steal and a block. Jones now moves up to ninth place in NCAA Division II history with 2,571 points, surpassing St. Cloud State's Erika Quigley (2,570) and Fairmont State's Sierra Kotchman (2,556).
 
George was the other Raider in double figures with 17 points; she added four rebounds, three assists and a steal. Graduate Lauren Pettis added nine points, a team-high 13 rebounds (her 13th game with 10+ rebounds), and a team high of three steals. Graduate Erin Gibbons had a team high of four assists.
 
Johnson led the scoring for West Chester with 32 points, while PSAC East Athlete of the Week, Michelle Kozicki, had another double-double with 18 points and 11 rebounds. Coming off the bench, Maya Carter played a crucial role for the Golden Rams as she banked 12 points and eight rebounds.

Shippensburg is back in action on Wednesday night as it travels to Kutztown for a 5:30 p.m. start.