Tuesday, Mar. 1, proved to be an exciting night for the Shippensburg University women’s basketball team. The Raiders faced off against the Millersville Marauders in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) quarterfinal game in Heiges Field House. With both the fans and the players fired up throughout the whole game, the gym’s atmosphere was charged with excitement and a sharp competitive edge. SU was able to pull out the win, keeping ahead of MU throughout most of the game to end the contest with a final score of 58-56.

SU led by four in the first quarter and was also ahead at the end of the half, up 26-20 going into halftime. The Lady Raiders continued to roll with their lead from the first half and rack up a total of 18 points to make the score 44-36 at the end of the third quarter.

The game appeared to easily be in the hands of the Raiders as they continued their lead into the fourth and final quarter of the game, but MU was not quite ready to give up the fight. The Marauders took advantage of nine SU turnovers and were able to make enough baskets to get within two points of SU’s lead at the 4:31 mark.

With a little more than four minutes left in the game, SU and MU battled back and forth until, once again, the Marauders trailed behind by only two points with 23 seconds remaining in game.

Junior Lauren Gold was able to widen the small point gap when she successfully made both of her free throws with a mere 15 seconds left. MU attempted a three-pointer, but was unable to follow through. The Marauders were able to make just one final lay-up as the final buzzer sounded, signaling the end of the game and SU’s first victory in the PSAC playoffs.

SU had an impressive showing, with junior Morgan Griffith leading the Raiders to victory. Griffith had her 16th double-double of the season with 18 points and 16 rebounds. Out of the 10 times Griffith shot from the free throw line, she made eight baskets. Gold followed close behind Griffith with a total of 17 points. Gold proved most helpful at the free-throw line, hitting all six of her attempted shots. Gold also grabbed four rebounds and had three assists.

Junior Colleen Young contributed as well, with a total of nine points and five rebounds. Junior Haley Scullion had an impressive performance within her 32 minutes of game time, racking up five points, three rebounds, three assists, one steal and one block, all without a single turnover.

The quarterfinal victory marks SU’s 21st win of the season, which is the most victories the team has had in a single season in 15 years. This is also the first time both of SU’s men’s and women’s basketball teams have reached semifinals in the PSAC playoffs.

SU will head to California University of Pennsylvania on Saturday, Mar. 5, for the semifinals.

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