GLENVILLE, W.Va. — The Shippensburg University women's basketball team was defeated by No. 4 Glenville State on Saturday night, 107-74, as the Raiders concluded their season in an Atlantic Regional Semifinal at the Waco Center.
Shippensburg (25-7) held a 16-14 lead with 2:16 left in the opening quarter but reigning national champion Glenville State (31-2) closed on a 10-2 run to lead by six after 10 minutes. The Lady Pioneers scored 27 or more points in each of the final three quarters, making 40 field goals overall including 15 three-pointers, to pull away.
"It's disappointing to end what has been a great season for us, this way," head coach
Kristy Trn said. "I'm very proud of my team for everything they've done this whole season. We're disappointed that this is how our season is going to end, but we are still blessed to have had the opportunity to be here."
Senior
Lauren Pettis recorded her 14th double-double of the season in her final collegiate game, scoring a team-high 19 points on 6-of-7 shooting and 7-of-10 at the free-throw line, in addition to 11 rebounds.
Senior
Ariel Jones scored five points in the game's first three minutes but was whistled for two fouls within the same span. Jones was on the bench the remainder of the quarter and returned for the start of the second quarter but whistled for her third foul within 60 seconds. She was assessed a fourth foul within the first minute of the third quarter. Jones finished with 15 points in just 14 minutes on the floor while grabbing three rebounds and recording two assists.
Sophomore
Taja Colbert delivered 12 points off the bench, making five field goals and two free throws. Colbert also had three steals and two assists. Junior
Treasure George had seven points, five rebounds and a team-high four steals. Sophomore
Abbie Miller added eight points.
Graduates
Erin Gibbons and
Mya Woodyard concluded their careers on Saturday night. Gibbons chipped in seven points, three rebounds and two steals, while Woodyard had two points, two rebounds and a steal.
"I said yesterday we have these telescope goals, and these players have had these goals in their telescope for five and six years," Trn said in reference to her seniors. "I think that's what I'm maybe the most proud of is that they now have these life lessons that are coming from the sport. Things aren't always going to be easy, and some things you're going to have find a way to fight through it, and they've done that, and they've led their team through that, and hopefully they've set a standard for the young players in the program as well. I'm very proud of how hard they've fought for Shippensburg University and for their teammates."
Notes:
• Shippensburg is now 12-10 in NCAA Tournament games, with Friday night's win over West Virginia State being the team's first NCAA Tournament win since a victory in the national quarterfinals over Delta State on Mar. 21, 2001.
• Shippensburg's 25 wins are its most in a single season in 22 years, dating back to the 2000-01 team that went 28-5 and reached the NCAA Final Four (achieving SU's last NCAA Tournament win prior to Friday).
• Ariel Jones finished her collegiate career with 2,806 career points, fourth-most in NCAA Division II history. This season, Jones broke the all-time PSAC single-game scoring record (51 points), the PSAC single-season scoring record (795 points) and the PSAC career scoring record (2,806 points) in addition to the NCAA Division II career free-throws made record (850). She will graduate with school career records in points, field goals (853) and free throws.
