KUTZTOWN, PA. (February 12, 2010) – The Kutztown University women's basketball team will get another opportunity to defeat a nationally-ranked opponent. This time, Millersville University, ranked No. 25 in the latest ESPN/USA Today Top 25 poll, visits Keystone Arena Saturday afternoon in an important Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division showdown beginning at 1 p.m.
Fans can listen to the game live on WEEU (830-AM) or online at www.kubears.com. This game will also be the annual Pink Zone, formerly Think Pink, event. All fans attending the game will receive pink ribbons and be encouraged to wear pink. In addition, fans will be able to purchase exclusive Pink Zone T-shirts that will be worn by Kutztown players and staff.
The WBCA Pink Zone® initiative is a global, unified effort for the Women's Basketball Coaches Association's (WBCA) nation of coaches to assist in raising breast cancer awareness on the court, across campuses, in communities and beyond.
Millersville (17-4 overall, 7-1 PSAC East) will be the fourth team this season that has arrived at Keystone Arena with a national ranking in front of its name. Unfortunately, the Golden Bears (15-6, 6-2) are 0-3 against those squads, dropping a contest to Holy Family (77-63), California (80-76) and undefeated Gannon (86-68). The Golden Bears were tied with Gannon at intermission and had opportunities to win the other two games.
Millersville, also ranked fifth in the latest NCAA Atlantic Regional rankings, leads Kutztown in the race for the PSAC East crown by a game. The Marauders defeated Kutztown, 61-42, four weeks ago at Pucillo Gym. Since that defeat, Kutztown has won five of its last six games. Last year at Keystone Arena, Kutztown defeated Millersville, 60-56.
Millersville and Kutztown are the top two teams in the PSAC in field goal percentage defense. Opponents are making 33.5 percent of their shots against the Marauders. Kutztown has permitted its opponents to shoot 35.3 percent. Millersville also leads the PSAC in steals (16.0) and scoring defense (50.6).
The Golden Bears prepped for this showdown by beating Mansfield, 77-42, Thursday night. The balanced Golden Bears got 13 points from reigning PSAC East Player of the Week Melissa McQuade. Rachel Wisemiller and Ashley Wood each scored 11 points each for Kutztown in the win over Mansfield. Overall, 10 different players scored in the win against Mansfield.
McQuade continues to lead Kutztown in scoring (14.6 ppg.) and rebounding (7.9). Wisemiller is second on the team in scoring (11.6). She also leads the team with 49 3-pointers and 40 blocked shots. Also, making key contributions for the Golden Bears are Vivian Melvin, Meredith Starr and Chauntelle Schroeder. Wisemiller scored nine points to lead KU in the first meeting against Millersville.
Behind the nation's second-best scoring defense, Millersville (17-4, 7-1 PSAC East) has picked off 10 wins in its last 11 games. Opponents are scoring just 50.6 points per game against the Marauders, who have held their opposition to under 50 points in six of their last seven games. Millersville defeated West Chester, 53-44, at Hollinger Field House Sunday afternoon behind Jenna Craig's double-double of 19 points and 11 rebounds.
Millersville has nine players averaging double digit minutes. The Marauders are led in scoring by Raquel Green (11.3) and Mashira Newman (10.2). Craig is Millersville's leading rebounder (8.5). Newman also leads the Marauders with 76 steals and Dominque Stroman is second with 56 steals.
Both teams return to action Monday night. Kutztown visits East Stroudsburg in a game rescheduled from Sat. Feb. 6 and Millersville hosts Shippensburg in a game rescheduled from Wed. Feb. 10. Both games begin at 6.
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