Lady Raider Basketball Headed Back to PSAC Championship, Travel to IUP Tuesday

Mar. 1, 2008

SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. - By virtue of Clarion's 73-54 victory at Slippery Rock on Saturday, the Shippensburg University women's basketball team earned its second-straight appearance in the PSAC Women's Basketball Championship which starts on Tuesday, March 4.

The Lady Raiders (19-8, 7-5 PSAC West), who have advanced to the conference tournament in 14 of the last 15 seasons, earned the fourth-seed from the Western Division by beating Indiana (Pa.) for the second time on Wednesday night when the Crimson Hawks were ranked in the top-15 nationally.

As a result of their 68-52 win over Lock Haven at home Saturday night, the Crimson Hawks secured the Western Division's top-seed in next week's tournament and will host the Lady Raiders on Tuesday in the quarterfinals at Memorial Field House.

Game time will be at 7:00 p.m., and tickets will be $7.00 for adults and $2.00 for students. Students from PSAC member institutions with valid I.D., will be admitted FREE. There will also be NO complimentary tickets except those with official PSAC passes.

On Wednesday, freshman forward Kasey Gardner (Sharpsville/Sharpsville) scored a career-high 27 points and sophomore forward Lauren Beckley (Fairfield/Fairfield) totaled her PSAC-leading 20th double double of the season, totaling 16 points and a game-high 14 rebounds in Shippensburg's 77-50 victory over the 13th-ranked Crimson Hawks at Heiges Field House.

Earlier this season, Gardner and Beckley combined for 47 points and 25 rebounds to lead the Lady Raiders to an 88-75 victory over No. 5-ranked IUP at Memorial Field House January 30. The loss snapped a nine-game win streak for the Crimson Hawks who had won a school record 17-straight at home.

IUP is the defending PSAC champion, but Shippensburg has won a conference-record six championships, all of which came in consecutive seasons from 1996-2001. The Lady Raiders and Crimson Hawks last met in the conference tournament 10 years ago when Shippensburg won the fourth of its six-straight championships, 92-85 on Feb. 27, 1999.

The two teams have met three times in the conference tournament with the Lady Raiders winning all three meetings in 1999, 1998 and 1984.

The winner will advance to the semifinals where it will play against the winner between #3E Cheyney and #2E West Chester which will also be played on Tuesday night at 7:00 p.m., at West Chester's Hollinger Field House.

Tuesday's other quarterfinal games include #3W Clarion at #2W California (Pa.) and #4E East Stroudsburg at #1E Millersville.

The highest remaining seed from the Western Division following Tuesday's games will serve as the host site for the semifinals and championship which will take place next Friday and Saturday, March 7-8.

- Lady Raider Basketball -