The Shippensburg University women's basketball team maintained a two-point halftime lead Saturday at Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division rival Kutztown but could not overcome a second-half cold spurt, dropping a 54-38 decision to the Golden Bears at Keystone Arena.
 
Shippensburg (2-13, 1-8 PSAC) put forth a solid defensive effort, limiting Kutztown (7-8, 5-4) to just 22 first-half points and forcing a total of 23 turnovers – the most opponent turnovers forced by SU this season.
 
SU led 16-14 after one quarter and 24-18 with less than a minute in the first half, but the Golden Bears got a pair of baskets from Naia Pulliam to make it 24-22 at halftime. The Raiders were limited to just 14 points the rest of the way.
 
Graduate Treasure George led the Raiders with 12 points and seven rebounds. George scored eight points in the first quarter, making 3-of-4 from the field including both of her three-point attempts.
 
Junior Taja Colbert had six points, six rebounds, two assists and three steals, while fellow junior Abbie Miller totaled four points, five rebounds, two assists and two steals.
 
Freshman Bella Chimienti scored five points, grabbed four rebounds and equaled a career high with three steals.
 
Off the bench, sophomore Makayla Foddrell scored a season-high five points and grabbed four rebounds. Freshman Alexis Buie contributed four points, three rebounds and two steals.
 
Kutztown was paced by Pulliam (17 points, seven rebounds) and Zara Zerman (15 points, five rebounds, five assists).
 
Both teams struggled at the free-throw line, shooting 50 percent overall (Shippensburg 7-of-14, Kutztown 12-of-24). The teams were also equal in rebounds (38).
 
Shippensburg hosts Mansfield at 6 p.m. Wednesday at Heiges Field House.