KUTZTOWN, Pa. —The Kutztown University women's basketball team looks forward to the 2012-13 season, as it returns an All-Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference selection, two seniors, and a host of new faces in what hopes to be an exciting year for the program.

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The Golden Bears are picked sixth in the PSAC East preseason poll. Last year Kutztown finished the season seventh in the PSAC East. The Golden Bears went 8-20 overall and 6-16 in the PSAC East.
 
However, it's a new season for the Golden Bears and they're more than ready to showcase their talent on the court. KU returns senior Ashley Wood (Limerick, PA/Spring-Ford) who was selected to represent the Maroon and Gold as a member of the Preseason All-Conference First Team.  She will lead a cast of four returning starters for Kutztown.
 
Last season, Wood scored a career-high 33 points in KU's season opener against Shepherd, which was the most by any KU player in a single game last year. She scored in double figures 18 times and went on an eight game streak of scoring in double digits. Wood led the team in assists (92) and steals (41), and was second on the team in 3-pointers (32).
 
Also returning is senior Steph Zewe (Lewistown, PA/Indian Valley). Honored as the PSAC East Athlete of the Week once during the 2011-12 season, Zewe was Kutztown's defensive leader averaging 9.1 rebounds a game. She was fourth in the PSAC in rebounding and second in defensive rebounding. Additionally, KU was ranked first in the PSAC in defensive rebounds. Zewe finished the season with 254 rebounds, which is second on the KU single season record. She was also second on the team in blocks (29) and third in steals (29).
 
Juniors Avery Hodgson (Surf City, NJ/Southern Regional), and Alyssa Bonenberger (Walnutport, PA/Northampton Area) return to the court ready to make immediate impacts after joining the starting lineup early in the 2011-12 season. Last season, Hodgson was second on the team in scoring with 10.9 points a game. She shot 85.5 percent from the free throw line, which was second in the PSAC. She scored in double figures 16 times and recorded three double-doubles, finishing second on the team in rebounds (156). Bonenberger started 24 games last season and finished with 24 assists and seven blocks.  She improved as a scoring option down the stretch, with both of her double figure efforts coming in the final five games of the year.
 
Fellow junior Tanejha Smith (Allentown, PA/William Allen) had three games where she finished with at least two steals and finished with 11 rebounds and six assists on the season.
 
New to the team last year, sophomores Nicole Donahue (Wall, N.J./St. Rose), Aly York (Douglassville, Pa./Daniel Boone), Advia Campbell (Mount Laurel, N.J./Lenape), and Elisa Gaffney (Downingtown, Pa./Coatesville) return to the court with a year of experience under their belts. Last season, Campbell was third on the team with 102 rebounds. Her 22 blocks were also third on the team. York finished with 17 assists and 12 steals, while Donahue recorded 47 rebounds. Gaffney was perfect from the free throw line, making all eight attempts
 
The 2012-13 squad welcomes two new players. Freshman guards Arianna Apostolopoulos (Yonkers, NY/Ursuline) and Natalya Lee (Feasterville, Pa./Rancocas Valley Regional) bring versatility, size, athleticism, and speed to KU.
 
The Golden Bears open up their 2012-13 season when they host Goldey-Beacom College on Monday, November 12, for a 6 p.m. tip-off.