MILLERSVILLE, Pa. (January 29, 2011) – Ashley Wood (Limerick, PA/Spring-Ford) led three Kutztown University players in double figures with 15 points during a 63-59 setback to nationally-ranked Millersville University in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division women's basketball game at Pucillo Gym Saturday afternoon. (BOXSCORE)
The Golden Bears (9-8 overall, 2-3 PSAC East) saw a 10-point second half advantage evaporate in the final 10 minutes. Millersville (14-3, 4-1) scored 30 points to finish the contest and extend its conference winning streak to four. The Marauders are ranked No. 20 in the latest Women's Basketball Coaches' Association (WBCA) top 25 poll.
Freshman Andrea Sisson (Richmond, VA/Godwin) tallied 14 points for the Golden Bears. Sisson was 5-for-8 from the field and 4-of-5 from 3-point distance in tallying her eighth double digit game of the season. Senior forward Melissa McQuade (Pittsburgh, PA/Shaler) finished with 10 points, nine rebounds, and five assists. McQuade upped her career scoring total to 1,446 points and rebounding number to 868.
Wood sparkled in the first half for Kutztown as she made all five of her shots for 13 points. Wood hit her first three 3-point shot attempts. Her strong play in the opening 20 minutes helped Kutztown grab a 29-24 halftime lead. It was the fourth straight game in double figures for Wood, who has scored 52 of her 62 points over that span in the first half.
The Golden Bears made 54 percent (12-of-22) of their shots in the first half.
After Millersville tied the game 31-31 early in the second half; the Golden Bears grabbed control with a 12-2 run fueled by everybody. Wood started the burst with a pair of foul shots. McQuade had five points during the surge. Brittany Le Van contributed a basket and an assist. Sisson capped the run with a 3-pointer that gave Kutztown its largest advantage of the game, 43-33, with 10 minutes, 22 remaining.
Unfortunately for the Golden Bears, the good times didn't last.
Millersville got back into the game on the strength of Aurielle Mosley and Mashira Newman. Mosley scored 10 of her 17 points after MU fell behind by 10 points. She also grabbed 17 rebounds to finish with a double-double. Newman caught fire from 3-point distance as she made her three of shots from deep during the same time period as Mosley got going inside. Newman finished with 13 points for the Marauders. Dominique Stroman contributed 11 points, six rebounds, and three steals.
Kutztown returns to action Monday evening when it visits Cheyney University at 6 p.m. Following that game, Kutztown begins a critical three-game home stand against Mansfield, Shippensburg and West Chester.
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