Gallery: (1-8-2025) 2024-25 Women's Basketball vs. Kutztown
SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. – The Shippensburg University women's basketball team established a 13-point halftime lead Wednesday night and surged down the stretch to pick up a key victory over Kutztown, defeating the Golden Bears 80-66 in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division clash at Heiges Field House.
Shippensburg (6-8, 3-5 PSAC) led 20-12 after the first quarter and 33-20 at halftime on the strength of its defense, forcing 11 first-half turnovers, winning the rebound advantage by seven and holding the visitors to 36-percent shooting.
Kutztown (6-9, 2-5)'s Leila Hurley hit three three-pointers in the first four minutes out of the halftime break to key a Golden Bear comeback, as the visitors got within five points of the Raiders during a 20-point third quarter.
The game went off the rails in the fourth quarter, as the teams combined for 59 points, 20 fouls, 11 turnovers in the final 10 minutes. By the end, SU had achieved its second-most points in a game this season and its highest regulation point total.
Shippensburg's 33-point fourth quarter marked its first 30-point quarter of the season and its most points in a single quarter since it scored 34 points in the fourth quarter at Millersville on Jan. 23, 2023 – the game in which Ariel Jones broke the all-time PSAC single-game and career scoring record (Jones had 22 of SU's 34 points in that fourth quarter).
On Wednesday night, freshman
Abbie Johns had 13 of her 15 points in the fourth quarter, going a perfect 3-of-3 from the floor and 7-of-7 from the free-throw line. The Raiders made 16-of-21 (76 percent) at the free-throw line in the fourth quarter and 28-of-36 (78 percent) overall, equaling its season high in made free throws.
Sophomore
Bella Chimienti was terrific, delivering the second 20-point game of her career (20 total points on 6-of-9 shooting) to go along with three rebounds, two assists and a career-high four steals. Chimienti, who mentioned in a post-game interview that she has played recently in memory of her high-school coach (Central York's Scott Wisner, who passed away from cancer earlier this month), scored eight of her points in the fourth quarter.
Senior
Abbie Miller was equally excellent, recording her second double-double of the season and the sixth of her career with a 16-point, 10-rebound effort. Miller was an efficient 6-of-8 from the field in matching her season high in points, posting double figures for the fourth time this season.
Freshman
Michelle Olak was held without a field goal but finished a career-high 6-of-8 at the free-throw line while grabbing seven rebounds and blocking two shots. In two games this week, Olak has made 11-of-17 (65 percent) at the free-throw line.
Senior
Taja Colbert had eight points and four assists, while sophomore
Alexis Buie finished with seven points and four rebounds.
Kutztown got a game-high 23 points from Naia Pulliam, who was 8-of-13 from the field and a perfect 6-of-6 at the free-throw line. Shannon Remolde scored 13 points, while Hurley finished with 12. It was the Golden Bears' third game of the year at Heiges Field House, as they opened their season with two games at SU's Conference Challenge tournament back in mid-November.
Shippensburg heads north this weekend to face Mansfield at 1 p.m. Saturday inside Decker Gymnasium.
