A scoring run that started late in the first half and carried over into the second half gave the Shippensburg University women’s basketball team more than it needed to bulldoze past Millersville University, 76–46 at Heiges Field House on Jan. 3.
The Raiders used a strong shooting effort in the second half in which the team shot 17-of-22 from the field to upend the Marauders. The Raiders shot an unbelievable 29-of-45 (64.4 percent) on the night.
The game was tied at 23 before the Raiders closed the first half on an 8–0 run to give SU a 31–23 lead going into the locker room. After the half, Millersville fought valiantly, closing the SU lead to just four, but it would draw no closer.
SU’s Colleen Young, Morgan Griffith and Stephanie Knauer each caught fire in the second half to lead the Raiders offensive onslaught. Knauer and Young led the way for the Raiders with both players finishing with a team-high 15 points. Griffith scored 13 points and grabbed nine rebounds, leaving her one rebound shy of her third-consecutive double-double. Logan Snyder also scored 10 points.
For SU, four of its five starters finished the game in double figures, with Lauren Gold just narrowly missing double figures, scoring eight points, while Victoria Blackburn added nine points off the bench.
“I am glad to see us have more people come out and score and be threats every night. This is the type of team we knew we would have after last year with the potential to put up big numbers, and so far this season a couple would be going and some would be struggling,” SU head coach Kristy Trn said. “Now we are starting to come together. When we get it going it’s a lot for opposing teams to handle.”
The win keeps SU unscathed in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) East Division play thus far, as SU has started out division play with two-straight victories.
“It takes a little bit of weight off their shoulders,” Trn said. “They know they can get out each game and do some things well so hopefully their confidence just keeps building and building, but we are still going to focus one game at a time.”
Similar to SU’s win against Kutztown University on Dec. 30, the Raiders used a strong second half to close the game. Against Kutztown, the Raiders buckled down and outscored Kutztown 27–17 in the final quarter to come away with a win.
“I was really pleased,” Trn said of her team’s effort in the second half against Millersville. “In the locker room I told the ladies that our third quarter has not been a strong point for us, and for us to come out and establish the third quarter was good.”
The Raiders, now 8–5, and 3–4 in the PSAC, prepare to host PSAC East rival Bloomsburg University on Jan. 7. Tipoff is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. at Heiges Field House.
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