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SHIPPENSBURG, PA - Bella Ricci (Etters, Pa./Red Land) scored a team-high 24 points as the Bloomsburg University women's basketball team hung on for a 78-71 road win over Shippensburg Wednesday night. The Huskies have won five straight games, and maintain sole possession of first place in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) East with a record of 10-3, 14-6 overall.

Ricci led a trio of Huskies in double-figures Wednesday, posting 24 points on 5-of-10 shooting from the field, and an impressive 12-of-14 from the charity stripe. Taylor Montana (Berwick, Pa./Berwick) notched her fourth double-double of the season, tallying 17 points and a team-high 10 rebounds, while Emma Saxton (York, Pa./Central York) reached double-digits for the 12th consecutive game, finishing with 10 points.

Bloomsburg led wire to wire in the contest, but a fourth quarter Shippensburg rally would cut the Huskies lead to as little as six before the final horn. Shippensburg's Ariel Jones, the third-leading scorer in all of Division II entering the contest, was held to just six points in the first half, before erupting for 32 second-half points, and 26 in the fourth quarter alone. In all, Shippensburg would outscore the Huskies 33-25 in the final frame, but a dominant first three quarters for Bloomsburg would prevent the Raiders from ever fully erasing the deficit.

The Huskies wasted little time taking control Wednesday, jumping out to a 21-12 lead after the opening quarter. Bloomsburg dominated around the basket in the first, as forwards Montana and Darcy Lee (Altoona, Pa./Bishop Guilfoyle) each tallied four points in the period.

Bloomsburg would extend its lead to as large at 14 points late in the second quarter on a Ricci three-pointer, and the lead would balloon to as large as 17 in the third thanks to baskets from Megan Brandt (Lebanon, Pa./Northern Lebanon) and Marissa Molnar (Erie, Pa./McDowell). Tasked with icing the game at the line in the fourth period, Ricci would pour in eight consecutive freebies to salt away the victory for the Huskies.

As a team, Bloomsburg shot 49.0% from the field, but were just 2-of-8 from beyond the arc. The Huskies suffocating defense limited Shippensburg to just 40.5% shooting from the floor, and a 4-of-16 mark from three-point territory. 

Jones was 12-of-16 from the floor and 10-of-16 from the free throw line for her 38 points, while Aunbrielle Green chipped in 14 points for the Raiders. Kryshell Gordy tallied nine points, five steals, and a game-high 11 rebounds.

The Huskies will look to make it six straight this Saturday when they return home to host West Chester. Bloomsburg will look to avenge 73-57 road loss to the Golden Rams on January 12. Tip-off for Saturday's contest is set for 1:00 p.m.