KUTZTOWN, PA. (January 3, 2010) – Senior guard Rachel Wisemiller scored a team-high 17 points to help the Kutztown University women's basketball team defeat Clarion University, 88-77, Sunday afternoon in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) crossover contest at Keystone Arena.
In leading five players in double digits, Wisemiller scored 14 of her points and made all four of her 3-pointers in the opening 20 minutes as the Golden Bears raised their overall record to 8-3. Overall, it was the balanced effort of Kutztown that was responsible for the victory.
Freshman guard Ashley Woodscored career-high 16 points. Senior center Chauntelle Schroeder collected 13 points and six rebounds. Senior forward Vivian Melvin contributed 12 points. Junior forward Melissa McQuade finished with 11 points extending her double digit scoring streak to 15 straight games.
Lizzie Suwala and Courtney Healy led Clarion by scoring a game-high 21 points each. Bethany Koch contributed 17 points for the Golden Eagles (7-4).
Wood scored 10 or her points after intermission. Although Wood did not score a point during a late 8-0 surge, she fueled the decisive run with some fast fingers, super speed and dynamite defense as Kutztown finally pulled free from Clarion. With the game tied for the 12th time, 64-64, with seven minutes, 56 seconds remaining, Kutztown took the lead for good on a Kristen Murray layup with 7:24 left.
During the run, Wood earned one of her three steals and her final assist of the game went to McQuade, who buried a 3-pointer from the right wing with 5:18 remaining. That gave KU a 72-64 lead. Clarion would get as close as five points (77-72) with 3:20 remaining.
Early in the second half when Clarion was making baskets, Wood matched the Golden Eagles by delivering timely shots. Each time Clarion grabbed a brief advantage, Wood answered. When Clarion took its largest advantage of the game, 49-46 six minutes into the second half, Wood immediately scored a layup.
Later in the half, Wood buried a 3-pointer in the left corner off of a Melvin assist that gave the Golden Bears a 57-56 edge with 10:30 remaining. It was Kutztown's first lead in five minutes of the second half.
Kutztown carried a 38-36 lead to the locker room thanks to Wisemiller's pinpoint shooting. For Wisemiller, the basket appeared to be the size of Lake Erie as she tossed in three consecutive 3-pointers during one stretch of the first half. The first half featured four ties and four lead changes. The Golden Bears raced to a pair of nine-point leads only to have Clarion rally both times.
Kutztown returns to action Saturday afternoon when it visits Edinboro in a PSAC crossover contest starting at 1 p.m. The game can be heard on the Golden Bear Radio Network.
--KU--
