The Shippensburg University women’s basketball team (0-1) fell on Saturday evening to the visiting Bowie State University Bulldogs (1-0), 60-52, at Heiges Field House.
The Raiders struggled all game with Bowie State’s physical full-court press and committed 26 turnovers as a team that directly led to 28 points for the Bulldogs.
Sophomore Ariel Jones led the way for SU as she tallied 18 points, and sophomore Kryshell Gordy nearly tallied a double-double with 9 points and a game-high 12 rebounds. The Raiders started three freshmen in the opener, as Aunbrielle Green, Lauren Pettis and Lauren Mills all made their college debuts.
The Raiders left points on the board at the free-throw line as well, shooting only 58 percent on 15-of-26 shooting. The third quarter was a turning point in the game, as the Bulldogs outscored the Raiders, 24–13, in the period to take a commanding lead. Bowie State led by as many as 17 points.
The Raider defense plays stellar in the win over WJU, forcing 19 turnovers.
SU coach Kristy Trn spoke on the team’s high number of turnovers after the game, saying the team’s lack of experience was likely the cause.
“Inexperience and youth. We started three freshman and two sophomores, so I knew coming out [of] the gate that we were going to have some nerves,” Trn said.
The Raiders had little time to rest as they were in action Sunday.
“We’re going to have to defend the three much better and defend penetration,” Trn said, looking ahead to the next game.
The Raiders returned to action Sunday, continuing the Wolf’s Bus Lines Classic at Heiges against Wheeling Jesuit University.
SU had a complete turnaround against the Cardinals, demolishing WJU by a score of 85–53. Jones had another standout game, leading the team with 31 points with four steals.
Gordy was active on the boards all game, grabbing 15 rebounds, including four offensive rebounds. She also added 14 points.
The 32-point win was the largest margin of victory for the team in nearly two years, when the Raiders defeated Slippery Rock University on Nov. 19, 2016, by a score of 94–58. That win was before the departure of former star players like Stephanie Knauer, Lauren Gold and Colleen Young.
The win was revenge for the defeat the Raiders suffered at the hands of the Cardinals in the first game of last season, dropping the contest, 72–63.
The second quarter was a big boost for the squad, as it outscored WJU by 10 points to take a 14–point advantage into halftime. The team came out of the break on fire, again outscoring the Cardinals, 28–21.
SU has a whole week off before returning to action next Tuesday against Jefferson University at home. The game will tip off at 6 p.m. from Heiges. The Raiders do not leave Shippensburg until Dec. 8, when they travel to take on IUP.
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