PHILADELPHIA, PA. (December 29, 2009) – The Kutztown University women's basketball team enjoyed another successful trip away from campus. The Golden Bears extended their winning streak to four games and remained perfect on the road by defeating Philadelphia University, 69-59, at Gallagher Arena Tuesday afternoon. (BOXSCORE)
The Golden Bears improved to 7-2 overall. They have won three of their four road games by double digits. More impressively is Kutztown has not trailed in the second half of any of its away games this season. The Golden Bears constructed a 21-point lead midway through the second half and cruised.
Junior forward Melissa McQuadescored a team-high 19 points to lead three KU players in double digits. McQuade has scored in double figures in 13 consecutive games. She also grabbed seven rebounds.
Senior center Chauntelle Schroeder, the reigning Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) East Division player of the week, pulled a career-high 11 rebounds.
Also reaching double figures for Kutztown was senior guard Vivian Melvin, and junior guard Meredith Starr. Melvin finished with a career-high 17 points on 6-for-9 shooting and five rebounds. Starr contributed 11 points. Senior guard Rachel Wisemiller finished with eight points.
The Golden Bears never trailed. Kutztown broke free from a 13-11 advantage six minutes into the game to lead, 37-25, at halftime. McQuade got Kutztown off to a quick start by scoring 13 points in the first half. McQuade made a 3-pointer with two minutes, 46 seconds remaining in the first half to give KU a 33-21 lead. The Golden Bears advantage never dropped below double digits after that.
Kutztown opened the second half with consecutive baskets from Melvin and Schroeder that expanded its advantage to 41-25. McQuade converted a 3-point play that gave the Golden Bears their largest lead of the contest, 63-42, with 8:43 remaining.
Defensively, Kutztown turned in another superb effort by limiting the Rams to 32.8 percent shooting for the game. Philadelphia (4-6) got a game-high 23 points from Christine Wooding.
Kutztown finished the season 5-1 against members of the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC).
Kutztown returns to action Saturday afternoon when it hosts Gannon University, ranked sixth in the ESPN/USA Today Division II women's basketball top 25, beginning at 1 p.m. in a PSAC crossover contest. Gannon will be the third nationally ranked team to invade Keystone Hall.
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