The Shippensburg University women's basketball team dropped its Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) opener to a hot-shooting California (Pa.) team Tuesday afternoon at the Convocation Center, 82-51.
 
Shippensburg (1-7, 0-1 PSAC) forward Kiara Hardy led the Raiders with a career-high 12 points and matched her career high with five rebounds. Melana Eyer totaled 11 points, four assists and three steals.
 
California (5-6, 2-0) shot nearly 60 percent from the field (31-for-52) and scored 61 percent of its total points (50-of-82) inside the painted area.
 
Both teams started out hot from the field. Shippensburg converted 43.5 percent (10-for-23) of its shot attempts in the opening half, but California was even better, converting at a white-hot 72.0 percent clip (18-for-25).
 
The Vulcans also maintained a 30-to-16 advantage in points in the paint and a 13-to-6 edge in points off turnovers, resulting in a 42-25 lead for the hosts after the first 20 minutes.
 
A 5-2 SU spurt to start to the second-half capped by a three-point play from Michelle Olak shrunk the deficit to 14 points, 44-30, but the Vulcans answered with seven straight points to extend the margin to 21 points and never looked back.
 
Alicia Young topped the Vulcans in scoring with 22 points on 9-of-13 shooting (69 percent).
 
The Vulcans finished 5-for-13 (38.5 percent) from three-point territory, while the Raiders went 0-for-10 from long range.
 
The Raiders shot a season-best 75 percent (9-for-12) from the foul line.
 
Makayla Foddrell totaled eight points and three steals for SU. Abbie Johns finished with seven points.
 
Shippensburg opens its home PSAC slate Saturday against Slippery Rock. Tip-off from Heiges Field House is set for 1 p.m.