McKenzie Thomas and
Makayla Foddrell each delivered career highs in points Saturday at Pitt-Johnstown but the Shippensburg University women's basketball team could not overcome an adverse first half in an 85-68 loss to the Mountain Cats at Sports Center.
Shippensburg (1-6) got a game-high 19 points from Thomas, 13 points and seven rebounds from Foddrell, and a near double-double from
Michelle Olak.
Thomas exceeded her previous carer high by seven in reaching double figures for the third time this season and fourth time in her career. She was 6-of-12 from the field (also 6-of-8 at the free-throw line) while also equaling her career high with three steals.
Foddrell's 13 points also included a career-best 7-of-10 effort at the free-throw line. She was 3-of-5 from the field and had a pair of steals. It was her first double-digit scoring game of the season and the fourth of her career.
Olak finished with 12 points, a game-high nine rebounds, a career-high three assists and a pair of blocks. She was 4-of-8 from the field and 3-of-5 at the free-throw line.
Abbie Johns was a fourth Raider in double figures, posting 10 points to go along with three rebounds and two steals. Freshmen
Melana Eyer and
Kiara Hardy each contributed six points; Hardy added three steals and two assists.
Pitt-Johnstown (3-5) shot 60 percent (9-of-15) from the field in the first quarter to lead 22-9 after the opening 10 minutes. The Mountain Cats added 24 more points in the second quarter to take a 46-23 advantage into halftime.
UPJ employed a wide rotation as 16 different players saw the floor and had at least four minutes of action. As such, the Mountain Cat bench outscored their starters 52-33. The hosts also totaled 28 points off 25 Raider turnovers.
Lexi Margolis led the hosts with 13 points, three rebounds, three assists and four steals in 19 minutes. Aubree Price was among three reserves with double digits, scoring 13 points on 6-of-8 shooting.
The Raiders made a season-high 22 free throws and shot 66 percent (22-of-33) overall at the line. SU took advantage of 10 UPJ fouls in the third quarter by making 12-of-15 attempts (80 percent) from the charity stripe.
While SU had 33 free-throw attempts, UPJ had 29 of its own. The Mountain Cats shot 76 percent (22-of-29) at the line.
Shippensburg returns to action at 3 p.m. Tuesday at Cal (Pa.).
