A 15-1 fourth quarter capped by foul trouble and injuries doomed the Lady Spartans in their nonsection tilt.

Laurel (3-5) was without starter Nicole Wade and sixth-man Megan Reeher again and had two other starters in Aleyce Bell and Kristin Dicks foul out toward the end.

“When you’re down injuries and you’re fouled out, that’s what happens,” Laurel coach Jessica Shevitz said. “We ran out of bodies towards the end of the game. Dicks was the only one that got to the foul line.”

Ellen Shaffer led the Lady Spartans with another double-double of 14 points and 15 rebounds, while Dicks added 10 markers.

Marissa Seibka led three players in double figures for Slippery Rock (3-2) with 15 points.

Despite the tough final quarter and being on the wrong end of an early run, the Lady Spartans continued to fight.

“We played very well, they went on a 15-1 run in the first quarter. We came back towards the end of the first but, with a new starting lineup, it could’ve been a long day. But we battled back. They never said quit and they’re working to get better every day.”

That determination is an encouraging sign for a Laurel team that, including tonight’s game against Shenango, will have played nine games in the past 18 days.

“It’s been grueling. We are banged up, nursing some injuries. All I want for Christmas is a healthy basketball team. We are taking two days off on Christmas Eve and Christmas and that’ll give them seven days before we have to play again. Hopefully by the 29th we’re starting to get our pieces back.”