Box Score (HTML)

SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. – Throughout the season, Marla Simmons (Lebanon/Cedar Crest) has been building a resume as one of the top players in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference.

The Bloomsburg University senior guard added her most impressive performance to date on Saturday afternoon, propelling the 18th-ranked Huskies to a thrilling 65-64 victory at Shippensburg by delivering the game-winning basket with 13 seconds to play and putting an exclamation point on a 30-point afternoon.

With the win the Huskies move to 17-2 overall and 15-1 in the PSAC.

Saturday's game was a back-and-forth affair featuring eight lead changes and 10 ties, and the pendulum swung in favor of the Raiders (13-8, 9-6 PSAC) when a foul sent sophomore Morgan Griffith to the line in the final half minute. Griffith made both shots to put Shippensburg ahead, 64-63, with just 25 seconds to go.

That set the stage for Simmons, who had been on fire all afternoon. Following Griffith's free throws, the Huskies called timeout to set up their final possession. As she was able to do nearly the entire game, Simmons then drove the lane for a layup and a one-point lead.

Shippensburg had one final chance as Lauren Gold created herself a strong look, but her shot with four seconds remaining hit the left corner of the rim and fell into the arms of Taylor Kaminski (Philadelphia/Archbishop Wood) who pulled down the rebound. The Raiders did not have an opportunity to foul and the clock ran out, allowing the Huskies to win their 10th straight game and 23rd consecutive contest against a PSAC East opponent.

Simmons established herself as the game's dominant player early, shooting 6-of-8 from the floor for 15 points during the first half as the Huskies built a nine-point lead.

Shippensburg roared back with a 14-3 run to take a 34-32 advantage on a jumper in the paint from Griffith just 13 seconds before halftime.

Taylor Maldonado (Stroudsburg/Allentown Central Catholic) gave Bloomsburg some positive momentum heading into the locker room, however, hitting a pull-up jumper as time expired to send the teams into intermission tied at 34.

The Raiders led in the early portion of the second half, stretching ahead, 42-36, at the 17:18 mark behind a layup from Stephanie Knauer.

Simmons drove inside for a bucket and a 42-38 score on the Huskies ensuing possession and from there the teams were not separated by more than six points the over the final 17 minutes.

Bloomsburg appeared to be pulling ahead for good late, taking a 59-53 advantage following a bucket from Kaminski with just over four minutes to play.

That lead would be short-lived, however, as the Raiders quickly tied the game on a shot beyond the arc from Logan Snyder and then a traditional three-point play from Knauer for a 59-59 deadlock with 2:21 showing on the clock at Heiges Field House.

After Adreana Sadowski (Fleetwood/Brandywine Heights) made the front end of a one-and-one for a 60-59 score, Shippensburg reclaimed the lead on a layup by Colleen Young at the 1:38 mark.

Again, Simmons was the one who had the answer for the Huskies with a layup and-one for a 63-61 edge on the next trip down the floor.

Griffith made one of two at the line following a Huskies foul for the 63-62 score, and Shippensburg's pressure then forced Bloomsburg to throw away the inbounds pass. That set the stage for Griffith's free throws following a foul as part of the tense final minute of play.

Along with her career high 30 points on 13-of-20 shooting, Simmons also brought in eight rebounds and handed out three assists while playing all 40 minutes. Maldonado added 10 points while Sadowski finished with seven points, seven rebounds and matched her career high of six blocks.

Shippensburg was powered by 19 points from Griffith along with 11 points and nine boards from Knauer. Gold gave the Raiders a third player in double figures, also netting 11 points.
Bloomsburg makes a trip to non-conference Philadelphia University on Feb. 5 for its next action.

GAME NOTES: Jocelyn Ford (Lansing, NY/Lansing) returned to the starting lineup after missing two games due to injury and she finished with six points and six rebounds ... The Huskies have gone 419 days without a road or PSAC East loss, each coming on Dec. 7, 2013 at Shippensburg with Saturday's win avenging a setback in their last trip to Heiges Field House … Simmons bettered her previous career high of 28 points set in December at Pitt-Johnstown .. Bloomsburg shot 50 percent from the floor (26-52) while Shippensburg was at 39.7 percent (23-58) … The Huskies outrebounded Shippensburg, 34-31 … Sadowski has four or more blocks six times this season … Bloomsburg now owns a three-game lead in the PSAC East standings following West Chester's loss to Kutztown Saturday.