KUTZTOWN, Pa. (February 25, 2011) – Looking back, it was probably the most pivotal moment of the Kutztown University women's basketball season. For 30 minutes, the Golden Bears were playing some of their best basketball of the season as they opened a 10-point lead at Millersville's Pucillo Gym on Jan. 29.
Unfortunately for Kutztown, those last 10 minutes made the difference and resulted in a tough-to-digest 63-59 defeat to Millersville. The Marauders scored 30 points in the final 10 minutes. For KU, it was the second straight time it watched a second half double digit advantage dissipate into a disappointing defeat against Millersville. Last season in the teams' second matchup, the Golden Bears led Millersville by 11 points at Keystone Arena before falling, 70-62.
Kutztown (15-10 overall, 8-5 PSAC East) has an opportunity to earn a little payback against a Millersville (20-5, 10-3) squad that just fell out of the ESPN/USA Today top 25 poll and is ranked sixth in the NCAA Atlantic Regional rankings. Game time is 1 p.m. Saturday afternoon and senior stalwarts Melissa McQuade (Pittsburgh, PA/Shaler), Kristen Murray (Harrisburg, PA/Trinity), and Meredith Starr (Richmond, VA/Monacan) will be honored prior to tip-off. Both teams are headed to the PSAC playoffs. Scenarios are at the end of the story.
Fans that can't make it to Keystone Arena will be able to watch a live broadcast on KUTV, which is Service Electric Channel 24 and Hometown Utilicom Channel 28 in Kutztown and eastern Berks County.
Kutztown enters the game playing its best basketball of the season. The Golden Bears have won three straight games following Wednesday's more dominant than final score appeared 71-59 victory at Mansfield. Kutztown looked sharp in building a 25-point halftime lead. Melissa McQuade (Pittsburgh, PA/Shaler) led the way with her seventh double-double of the season (27 points, 11 rebounds).
Meredith Starr (Richmond, VA/Monacan),
Ashley Wood (Limerick, PA/Spring-Ford), and
Steph Zewe (Lewistown, PA/Indian Valley) all reached double figures in scoring for KU. Starr finished with 11 points and a team-high eight assists. Wood recorded 13 points and Zewe had 10 points. Kutztown had an impressive shooting exhibition during the first half as it shot 17-for-33 from the field, was 4-for-8 from 3-point range, and was perfect from the free throw line.
McQuade and Wood have the engine driving the Golden Bears this season. McQuade is fifth in the PSAC in scoring (17.3) and rebounding (9.0). She was named to the Capital One Academic All-America second team Thursday afternoon. McQuade enters the final home game of her career with 1,600 points and 955 rebounds. Wood has hit for double figures in 11 straight games and is averaging 14 points per outing. She led Kutztown in the first meeting against the Marauders with 15 points.
Meanwhile, Millersville defeated Shippensburg, 70-56, Wednesday night behind Marshira Newman's career-high 30 point performance. Newman's effort was the most points scored by a Marauder since the 2005-06 season. She tallied 19 of her points in the second half on 6-of-6 shooting from the floor and 2-of-2 from behind the arc. Newman also went 5-of-6 from the charity stripe in the second period to help Millersville storm back from a six-point halftime deficit.
Sophomore Aurielle Mosley scored 14 points and had a game-high 14 rebounds for her 10th-straight and 16th double-double of the season. Senior Domonique Stroman scored 10 points, and pulled down seven rebounds for the Marauders. Mosley, Stroman and Newman were key figures in Millersville's rally against Kutztown as they combined for 41 points and 32 rebounds. Mosley scored 10 of her 17 points in the final 10 minutes.
Millersville leads the PSAC in rebound margin (+10.7) and blocked shots per game (6.2). The Marauders are also fourth in the conference in scoring defense (58.5 points per game). Mosley and Newman are a powerful one-two punch. Mosley is tied for seventh in the PSAC in scoring (16.3) and leads the conference in rebounding (13.0). Newman is 10th in scoring (14.0), second in assists (5.0) and leads the PSAC in steals per game (3.8). Stroman averages 10.6 points per contest.
Following the game, both teams will prepare for the playoff rematches from a year ago. Kutztown as the No. 4 seed will visit top-seeded Bloomsburg in one quarterfinal matchup. West Chester and Millersville will play each other although the site has yet to be determined. West Chester holds a one-game lead so if it beats Bloomsburg, the Marauders will travel to West Chester. Both games will be Tuesday most likely starting at 7 p.m.
The West scenario is the same. Edinboro, which is the top-ranked team in the Atlantic Region, will be the No. 1 seed and host fourth-seeded Mercyhurst. Indiana (Pa.) and California (Pa.) will also play each other in another quarterfinal although that site is up in the air as both teams have 10-3 conference marks.
Tiebreaker Scenarios – WOMEN's PSAC EAST
Bloomsburg is the No. 1 seed and will host No. 4 Kutztown on Tuesday
West Chester is 11-2; Millersville is 10-3
If both teams finish 11-3 (West Chester loses to Bloomsburg, Millersville defeats Kutztown)
--- both teams have exact same results in divisional play – split with each other and swept by Bloomsburg
Tiebreaker “C” is wins against Division II teams at or above .500
--- Millersville wins this tiebreaker if Gannon (12-13) loses on Saturday (WC defeated Gannon, Millersville lost to Gannon)
----- West Chester reaches tie if Gannon wins on Saturday
Tiebreaker “D” is wins against Division II teams below .500
Millersville has one more win in this category.
MILLERSVILLE No. 2 seed, West Chester No. 3 seed
Tiebreaker Scenarios – WOMEN's PSAC WEST
Edinboro is the No. 1 seed and will host No. 4 Mercyhurst on Tuesday
IUP and California are 10-3
IUP hosts Mercyhurst, California is at Lock Haven on Saturday
If both win or both lose:
Tiebreaker
--- Split head to head
----- IUP 1-1 vs. Edinboro; Cal 0-2 vs. Edinboro
IUP is No. 2 seed, Cal is No. 3 seed
