KUTZTOWN, PA (December 30, 2010) – The Kutztown University women's basketball team returned from winter recess Thursday afternoon as it fell to Philadelphia University 74-70 in a non-conference game at Keystone Arena. (BOXSCORE)
The Golden Bears (5-3 overall) were led by senior Kristen Murray (Harrisburg, PA/Trinity) who had a career-high 21 points off 9-for-21 shooting. Her nine field goals matched a career-high.
Murray was part of an early KU attack which helped build an early 10-0 lead just over three minutes into the game. Kutztown led for the first 16 minutes, 56 seconds until Taylor Magnus's jumper gave Philly U. a 32-31 lead.
Despite taking a two-point margin heading into halftime and leading by as many as 11, the Rams of Philadelphia would encounter a KU comeback led by Melissa McQuade (Pittsburgh, PA/Shaler) and Meredith Starr (Richmond, VA/Monacan). The Golden Bears went on a 14-3 run with just over nine minutes to go in the game and would tie the game at 64 off a Murray jumper.
McQuade had 10 of her 16 points in the second half and went 7-for-8 from the free-throw line. She also had a team-high 15 rebounds. McQuade remains fifth on the KU all-time scoring list with 1,291 points and third in career rebounds with 793.
Starr finished with 10 points including a pair of 3-pointers for KU.
With 37 seconds remaining, Brittany LeVan (Centre Hall, PA/Penns Valley) cut the lead to two points, grabbing an offensive rebound and a put-back layup. Kutztown was unable to stop the Rams though as Christine Wooding made a layup with 11 seconds to go, stretching the lead to four. LeVan had seven points and went 5-for-6 from the free-throw line.
The Rams (6-3) finished with three players in double figures and were led by Kate Brennan who had 28 points off 11-for-18 shooting including 5-for-9 for 3-point range. She also had a team-high seven rebounds. Stephanie Agger added 12 points and Wooding had 10.
Kutztown will continue play in the New Year as it hosts Mercyhurst College in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) crossover game on January 3 at Keystone Arena beginning at 6:00 p.m. KU will play their second crossover game in back-to-back nights with a home game against Slippery Rock on January 4 at 6:00 p.m.
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