Women's Basketball | 11/17/2012 9:17:00 PM
Box Score SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. – Host Shippensburg used an overwhelming advantage at the charity stripe to hand the West Liberty University women a 76-68 loss in Saturday's final game of the Wolf's Bus Lines Classic Saturday night at Heiges Field House.
The Raiders (2-1) scored nearly half their points from the free throw line, cashing in a staggering 34-of-41 foul tosses to hold the Hilltoppers (2-2) at bay coming down the stretch.
West Liberty led through much of the early going only to see Shippensburg turn momentum in its favor late in the opening half.
Freshman Stephanie Knauer scored the last 7 points of the half to give the Raiders a 32-29 lead at intermission and the hosts built that edge to 47-38 on a pair of Shawna Wert free throws at 14:21 of the second half.
The Hilltoppers responded with a 10-1 surge, knotting the score at 48-48 on
Jenn Mohney's third 3-pointer of the night with 11:32 on the clock, but couldn't get over the hump.
Shippensburg went back ahead to stay on a pair of conventional 3-point plays and the lead never dropped below 6 points the rest of the way.
Despite being whistled for 31 fouls and having three starters foul out, there were some bright spots for the Black and Gold.
Southworth – who had lit it up for 30 points in Friday's win against St. Augustine's – was named Tournament MVP while Wiseman joined her on the All-Tournament Team.
Shippensburg, which was charged with only 12 fouls all night, got 22 points and 10 rebounds from Knauer while twin sisters Dana and Shawna Wert split 28 points. The three Raiders were a combined 26-of-29 from the foul line.
West Liberty returns home to open its West Virginia Conference slate on Tuesday when the Hilltoppers host West Virginia Wesleyan. Tipoff is set for 5:30 p.m. at the ASRC.
GAME NOTES
X Shippensburg's 34 made free throws are the most by a West Liberty opponent in a regulation game since West Virginia State hit 35 foul tosses on Feb. 14, 1991
X The 31 personal fouls are the most by a Hilltopper team in regulation since a 31-foul night against West Virginia Wesleyan on Feb. 23, 1998
X West Liberty outscored Shippensburg, 56-42, from the floor but couldn't overcome the Raiders' 34-12 edge from the charity stripe
X Southworth has hit double-figures in 32 of her 34 career games with the Hilltoppers
