KUTZTOWN, Pa. — Rachel Wisemiller (Hazleton, PA/Hazleton Area) (jr. Hazleton/Hazleton) scored 16 points as the Kutztown University women's basketball team held off Millersville University for a 60-56 win Saturday at Keystone Hall.
Wisemiller, who also had six rebounds, hit a crucial 3-pointer with 5:53 left to give the Golden Bears (12-3, 2-0 PSAC East) the lead for good at 53-50 in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference East contest.
The win snaps Kutztown's 15-game losing streak vs. the Marauders.
Millersville (11-4, 0-2 PSAC East) used a 9-2 run to tie the game at 50, but Wisemiller's 3, coupled with a layup by Chauntelle Schroeder (Toronto, Ontario, CANADA/Mother Teresa) (jr. Toronto, Ont./Mother Theresa), who finished with 16 points, gave KU a 55-50 lead.
The Marauders cut the lead to one at 55-54 with 4:17 left and KU missed four of five free-throw attempts over the next three minutes, but Millersville was not able to capitalize.
After Meredith Starr (Richmond, VA/Monacan) (so. Richmond, Va./Monacan) missed the front-end of a one-and-one with 28 seconds left, Millersville had a chance to tie the game at 56 with a basket, but Wisemiller forced Jenna Philo to lose the ball out of bounds with 14 seconds remaining.
Starr was fouled on the ensuing possession and redeemed her earlier miss with two free throws to make it a four-point game. Wisemiller also made consecutive free throws in the final 10 seconds to keep the Marauders at bay.
KU finished 17-of-22 at the line, including Schroeder's 10-for-10 showing. She also had seven rebounds.
Vivian Melvin (Chichester, PA/Chichester) (jr. Chichester/Chichester) scored 12 points, and Melissa McQuade (Pittsburgh, PA/Shaler) (so. Pittsburgh/Shaler) had 10 rebounds, four assists and a steal for KU.
Millersville had four players in double-digits, with Gladine St. Julien leading the way with 13. Philo had 12 points, while Ashley Moyer and Jenna Craig each had 10 apiece.
The Marauders led 35-32 at halftime, shooting 44.4 percent from the floor and hitting three 3-pointers. KU was 10-of-11 from the free-throw line in the first half to keep the game close at halftime.
KU will host Mansfield at home in another PSAC East contest at 6 p.m. Wednesday at Keystone Hall.
