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COLD FIRST HALF; SHIPPENSBURG FREE THROW SHOOTING HOLDS BACK CLARION

SHIPPENSBURG – Shippensburg took advantage of a cold first-half shooting performance by Clarion and a huge advantage at the free-throw line to beat the visiting Golden Eagles 69-63 Saturday afternoon.

            Clarion (6-11 overall, 1-2 PSAC-West) shot 36.4 percent (8 of 22) in the first half while scoring its fewest opening half points of the season. The Red Raiders (13-5, 3-0) also shot 36 free throws including 28 in the second half to Clarion’s 13 free throws including 10 nine in the second half. Shippensburg made 26 of those charity shots including 23 in the second half shooting 72.2 percent from the game after entering the contest a 67.6 percent free-throw shooting team.

            The Golden Eagles started the game strong scoring seven of the games first nine points before Shippensburg answered with an 8-2 run of its own to take a 10-9 lead with 12:56 left in the first half.

            The game then turned into an even contest for most of the remainder of the half before Shippensburg used a 7-0 half-ending run to take a 27-19 at halftime.

            Shippensburg then extended the lead to 13 points – 41-28 – midway through the second half before Clarion rallied with an 8-3 lead to close the gap to 44-36 on a My’Kea Cohill jumper with 8:57 to play.

            Clarion then had an opportunity to close the game to six points, but a missed shot was rebounded by Ashley Grimm who was pushed out of bounds. But no call was made, and instead of shooting a 1-and-1, Clarion was on defense. Shippensburg then connected on an old-fashion 3-point play by Shanna Oaddams to take the lead back into double digits. The Golden Eagles never rebounded getting no closer than the final score, which happened on a Cohill three-pointer with five seconds to play.

            Grimm and Katrina Greer led Clarion with 14 points with Grimm adding five assists and six steals. Cohill added 13 points, while Jessica Albanese and April Gratton, who both fouled out, each had eight points.

            Super freshman Lauren Beckley, who entered the game averaging 20 ppg, 8 rpg, had 24 points, nine rebounds to lead Shippensburg. Jenny Cunningham added 18 points, eight rebounds after entering the game averaging just under six points a game. Megan Fogle had nine points.

            Clarion is next in action Wednesday when it travels to Lock Haven (6 p.m.). That game can be heard locally on WCUC-FM, 91.7 FM in Clarion and on the internet at www.redzonemedia.com.