Box Score

Shippensburg, Pa. — Behind another stellar defensive effort, the Millersville women's basketball team swept the season series with Shippensburg, improved its PSAC playoff chances, and won the 700th game in program history with a 69-44 win at Heiges Fieldhouse on Wednesday night.

The Lady Raiders (11-11, 5-4 PSAC East) opened the scoring with two quick baskets, before Millersville (17-5, 6-3 PSAC East) came back with two of its own to take a 5-4 lead. A Kasey Gardner layup put the home team back in front 6-5 at the 1:48 mark, but Jenna Philo, Gladine St. Julien, and Ashley Moyer helped spark a 9-0 run for the Marauders that lasted just over five minutes and gave the visitors a 14-6 lead.

St. Julien knocked down a pair of free throws halfway through the first stanza to put the Marauders in front by double digits, 21-10. Back-to-back 3-pointers from Philo and Emily Balogh gave Millersville a commanding 32-14 lead with 7:09 to play in the half. Shippensburg tried to climb back into it, using a quick 10-4 run, capped off by two Lauren Beckley free throws, to cut the MU lead to 12 with 4:36 to go. The Lady Raiders would come up dry though, scoring only two points the remainder of the half, as the Black and Gold took a 39-26 lead to the break.

Jenna Craig scored six of her eight points in a span of 2:09 to start the second half, St. Julien also dropped in a bucket, and Moyer drained a 3-pointer, as Millersville built a 21-point lead just three minutes into the second half. The Lady Raiders didn't help their chances of getting back in the game, missing 11 straight shots, before Jenn Morrow's layup made it 54-32 Marauders with 10:30 to play.

Millersville would build its lead as high as 28 points en route to its 17th win of the season. The Marauders also got some help within the PSAC East, as Mansfield upset Kutztown and Cheyney fell to West Chester. With the win, Millersville now sits in a three-way tie with the Golden Bears and Wolves for second place in the East Division at 6-3.

Philo finished with 13 points and six assists to lead the way for MU, while Balogh came off the bench to score 11 on 5-of-6 shooting. St. Julien chipped in with nine points and eight rebounds, as six Marauders finished with seven points or more. Shippensburg, meanwhile, was ice cold from the floor, shooting a dismal 31-percent for the game. Beckley, last year's PSAC West Athlete of the Year, put up a solid effort, scoring 18 points and grabbing 14 rebounds, both game-highs. The junior forward got little help, especially in the second half, as the Lady Raiders were held to just 18 points, their third lowest output in a half this season.

Millersville's women's basketball program started in 1918-19 and now has an all-time record of 700-445 (.611). The Marauders have compiled 340 of those victories under current head coach Mary Fleig.

Millersville returns to Pucillo Gymnasium for a match-up with Kutztown on Saturday afternoon. Saturday is MU's annual WBCA Pink Zone™ event. Fans are encouraged to wear pink, as the game will be a part of a nation-wide WBCA Pink Zone™ effort led by the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA). Game time is set for 1 p.m.