SHEPHERDSTOWN, W.Va. – Senior guard Morgan Arden (Hanover, Pa./Spring Grove) scored a game-high 30 points to lead Shepherd University (10-12, 6-10 MEC) to an 85-76 win over Urbana (10-10, 8-8 MEC) in MEC women's basketball action at the Butcher Center on Saturday.

Arden connected on 8-of-18 field goals with a 3-of-5 effort from three-point range. She was 11-of-12 from the foul line.  She also added five assists, four rebounds, and a steal.

Junior guard Kayla Tibbs (Leesburg, Va./Heritage/Glenville State) scored 18 points. Junior guard Kari Lankford (York, Pa./West  York Area) added 15 points, a game-high nine rebounds, and five assists, while senior guard Tiffany McKinney (Edgewater, Md./South River/Anne Arundel CC) tossed in 12 points.                                                                 

Sylvia Hudson scored 25 points to lead the Blue Knights. Stefanie Davis added 22 points, eight rebounds, and five assists, while Danie Shafer tossed in 12 points.

Urbana had a 39-36 lead at halftime as Davis fired in 16 first-half points.

Shepherd outscored Urbana, 19-11 in the third period to pull away for the win.  

Urbana rallied to within five points at 77-72 with 50 seconds remaining, but the Rams sunk 8-of-8  free throws in the final seconds to seal the victory.

Shepherd shot 48.1 percent (25-52) from the floor with a 47.1 percent effort (8-17) from three-point range for the game. The Rams drained 90 percent (27-30) of their free throws.

Urbana hit on 45.3 percent (29-64) from the floor with an 11.1 percent (2-18) performance from beyond the arc. The Blue Knights connected on 72.7 percent (16-22) of their free throws.

Shepherd had a 37-30 edge in rebounds. The Rams forced eight turnovers and committed 14.

The Rams return to action on Thursday when they travel to Concord for a 5:30 p.m. contest.