SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. - - Lauren Gold scored 21 points and Shippensburg forced 31 turnovers as the Raiders upended UVa-Wise 63-41 in the women's basketball season opener for both schools Friday.
UVa-Wise (0-1) jumped out to a 2-0 lead on Kayla Carey bucket on the game's opening possession. It would be the only lead of the night for the Cavaliers.
Shippensburg (1-0) responded by outscoring the visitors 25-16 over the remainder of the opening half to take a 25-18 lead to intermission.
The Raiders forced 18 turnovers and limited the Cavs to six made field goals in the opening 20 minutes. Meanwhile, Shippensburg saw Gold score 13 of her game-high 21 points in the half. UVa-Wise's defense was impressive in the opening half of the season also. The Cavs limited the Raiders to 26.7 percent shooting in the half but an 8-10 showing at the free throw line by Shippensburg helped offset the team's poor shooting.
The offensive woes for UVa-Wise would continue in the second half as Kristin Kunzman's team would make just four field goals in the third period. Shippensburg pushed its lead to as many as 13 points in the quarter and despite a pair of free throws by the Cavs' Alle Moore in the closing seconds of the period, Shippensburg entered the final 10 minutes up 40-29.
Kristy Trn's Raiders wasted little time putting the game away for good in the fourth quarter. A 3-pointer by Gold and a bucket from Stephanie Knauer pushed the advantage to 16 at 45-29 with under nine minutes to play.
UVa-Wise never recovered as the guests would be unable to get within 13 points at any point the remainder of the contest.
Carey was the only Cav to finish in double figures as she scored 12 points on 5-12 shooting. The senior added a team-high nine rebounds. Moore and freshman Kayla Mullins each chipped in six points in the season opener.
The Raiders placed four players in double figure scoring. Griffith scored 12 points while Victoria Blackburn (11) and Snyder (10) joined Gold in the double figure scoring quartet.
UVa-Wise outrebounded Shippensburg in the game 32-28 but the 31 turnovers proved to be too much to overcome.
The Cavs are back in action tomorrow at 1 p.m. when they face Indiana University – Pennsylvania. The Crimson Hawks dropped their season opener 59-45 to Bowie State Friday.
