KUTZTOWN, PA. (November 30, 2009) – The Kutztown University women's basketball team defeated Chestnut Hill College, 62-52, at Keystone Hall Monday night. (BOXSCORE)
When Chestnut Hill shrank Kutztown's 10-point second-half advantage to 42-40 with nine minutes, 57 seconds remaining, senior forward Vivian Melvin (Chichester, PA/Chichester) (Chichester/Chichester) made several key plays to spark a late Kutztown surge. Melvin scored two baskets, grabbed three rebounds, handed out a crucial assist and recorded a steal to help the Golden Bears (3-1 overall) win their second straight game.
Junior Melissa McQuade (Pittsburgh, PA/Shaler) (Pittsburgh/Shaler) finished with 16 points and nine rebounds. McQuade has led Kutztown in scoring in every game this season. Junior Kristen Murray (Harrisburg/Trinity) scored seven of her 11 points in the final six minutes. Sophomore Brittany Greaves (Malvern, PA/Great Valley) (Malvern/Great Valley) scored 10 of her career-high 12 points in the first half.
Chestnut Hill (0-5) had a trio of players finish with eight points each (Aiesha Smith, Ericka Furrowh and Jenna Beck). Lindsay Alexander grabbed a team-high 10 rebounds.
Melvin finished with five points, five assists and eight rebounds, tying her career high. It was the third time this season Melvin has handed out at least four assists. Melvin got the game-deciding burst started with a 3-point play. She grabbed the ball, drove hard to the basket, scored and absorbed the contact. Melvin converted the foul shot to get KU started.
“We knew we needed to do something to pick up our effort,” Melvin said. “I was just fortunate to be in the right place at the right time to score. I don't really remember the basket. We know we need to play better and I believe we will.”
After the Griffins answered with a basket, junior guard Meredith Starr (Richmond, VA/Monacan) (Richmond, VA/Monacan) drilled a jumper off of a Melvin assist. Feeding off that energy, Murray converted a layup off a Starr pass. Murray got into the giving frenzy when she fed Melvin for a layup. Melvin's basket gave Kutztown a 51-42 edge with 6:01 remaining.
Murray then took control. She had a hand in Kutztown's next nine points. Before scoring five straight points, Murray handed out a pair of assists. Murray capped her personal burst by draining a 3-pointer to give the Golden Bears a 60-50 lead with 1:39 remaining.
With it being the season of giving, Kutztown was into the festive holiday spirit as it finished with six assists on its final seven baskets.
The hotly contested first half featured eight ties and four lead changes. Kutztown's largest advantage in the opening half was 25-19 with 2:54 remaining. Chestnut Hill constructed a brief 9-6 lead seven minutes into the game. The Golden Bears' bench triumvirate of Greaves, freshman Ashley Wood (Limerick, PA/Spring-Ford) (Royersford/Spring-Ford) and Murray combined for 16 of KU's 29 first half points.
Kutztown returns to action Wednesday night when it hosts California (Pa.) beginning at 6 p.m. The Vulcans (4-1) are currently ranked third in the latest ESPN/USA Today Division II Top 25 Coaches' poll.
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