CLARION, Pa. – For the second straight night it came down to the final minutes of the game, but the Clarion women's basketball team was unable to hold off Shippensburg in a 63-54 loss at the Student Recreation Center.  The Golden Eagles (7-5, 1-4 PSAC) will enjoy a lengthy break before their next action, an exhibition against Kent State on New Year's Eve.
 
Clarion quickly rallied from a seven-point deficit at the end of the first quarter, outscoring the Raiders 19-13 in the second quarter to pull within a point at halftime.  The teams were separated by just two points at the end of the third quarter, but a late run by Shippensburg put the Raiders on top.
 
Yasmin Lewis had her first double-double of the season with 12 points and 11 rebounds, going 5-of-10 from the field and also adding three steals.  Kadijah Dickson filled the stat sheet with 14 points, seven rebounds and six assists, including a perfect 6-of-6 mark at the free throw line.  Yndiah Bobo took over portions of the game in the second half, finishing with 14 points, six rebounds, four assists and three steals.
 
Shippensburg leapt out to an eight-point lead at the 4:47 mark of the first quarter, but Clarion embarked on a 7-0 run to cut the down the deficit.  Jordan Bekelja made a three-pointer at the 3:33 mark to make it just 12-9 and Dickson added a midrange jumper to slash it to one point before the Raiders responded with a run of their own.  They took a 22-15 lead at the end of the period, but the Golden Eagles chipped away at that late in the half.
 
Haille Hart turned it into a two-possession game with two free throws late in the second quarter, and Bekelja scored in the paint with 1:01 remaining to set the halftime deficit at 35-34.  Clarion finally tied the score late in the third quarter on a drive by Bobo, who took it to the left to beat her defender and make it 42-42.  The teams hovered around one another for the next eight minutes, with Imani Dockery putting the Golden Eagles ahead 53-51 with 3:40 left in regulation.  The Raiders closed on a 10-1 run to rally and steal the win.