Gallery: (3-10-2023) 2022-23 WBB vs. WVSU (NCAA Atl. Reg QF)
GLENVILLE, W.Va. – The Shippensburg University women's basketball team posted its first NCAA Tournament victory in 21 years on Friday night, defeating No. 5 seed West Virginia State 87-83 in an Atlantic Regional quarterfinal at Glenville State's Waco Center.
Shippensburg (25-6) advances to the NCAA Atlantic Region semifinals at 7:30 p.m. Saturday where it will face host No. 1 seed Glenville State (30-2), the reigning national champions. The Lady Pioneers defeated eighth-seeded Elizabeth City State, 84-60, pulling away in the second half after just a four-point margin at halftime.
After a back-and-forth first half Friday night that ended in a two-point Raider lead at halftime (40-38), SU opened the third quarter on a 10-2 run to lead 50-40. SU led by 12 points with 5:00 remaining in the game, but a 9-0 Yellow Jacket run made it a one-possession game entering the final minute.
Shippensburg made 6-of-8 free throws in the final minute, including senior
Ariel Jones making all four of her attempts in the final 17 seconds, to prevail with the victory.
Jones led all scorers with 25 points, scoring 13 in the fourth quarter on a pair of threes, a layup and 5-of-7 at the free-throw line. Overall, Jones recorded her fifth double-double of the season, finishing with 11 rebounds in addition to five assists and three steals.
Graduate
Erin Gibbons chipped in 15 points, making 6-of-7 from the field including an efficient 3-of-4 from three-point range. It is the second-most points she has scored as a Raider, two off from her output at Goldey-Beacom this season. Gibbons also had six rebounds and two assists.
Junior
Treasure George delivered 13 points, five rebounds, four assists and two steals. Sophomore
Abbie Miller scored 12 points on 6-of-10 shooting and had six rebounds.
Senior
Lauren Pettis had some foul trouble but still managed eight points on 4-of-6 shooting and grabbed a team-high 12 rebounds. Sophomore
Taja Colbert scored six points, and both graduate
Mya Woodyard and freshman
Ellie Goodwin finished 2-of-3 from the field for four points each.
West Virginia State (22-7), the nation's top scoring offense (91.5) and rebounding (51.3) team, was held to 29.3 percent shooting by the Raider defense. The Yellow Jackets missed 65 shots, but their high-volume shooting still resulted in 11 three-pointers and an 18-of-22 (81.2 percent) rate at the free-throw line. Emyah Fortenberry had 16 points and 22 rebounds for the Yellow Jackets.
WVSU also ranks second in the nation in forcing turnovers, but Shippensburg finished the game with 16 assists compared to 15 turnovers. SU also scored 50 points in the paint, and out-transitioned State to the tune of 21 fast-break points.
Shippensburg improves to 12-9 in NCAA Tournament games. Friday's win snaps a three-game losing streak in the NCAA Tournament and marks the team's first NCAA Tournament win since a victory in the national quarterfinals over Delta State on Mar. 21, 2001.
