Box Score KUTZTOWN, PA --- Tanejha Smith (Allentown, PA/William Allen) scored a career-high 18 points and pulled down nine rebounds to the lead Kutztown to a 64-62 win over Lock Haven in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference women's basketball action Wednesday night at Keystone Hall.
It was the second straight night Smith reached a new career-high, after pouring in 14 on Tuesday evening against Clarion.
The Golden Bears led 62-60 with 37 seconds remaining after a three-pointer by Lock Haven's J.J. Hilliard. After a missed lay-up with by KU's
Ashley Wood (Limerick, PA/Spring-Ford) with eight seconds on the clock, Lock Haven had possession with a chance to tie or take the lead. However, Smith stole the ball from Brianna Morales and drove for a lay-up with three seconds remaining to seal the victory for the Golden Bears.
The game featured several lead swings, including late in the first half. KU led 32-20 with 4:38 remaining before Lock Haven rattled off 14 unanswered points to take a 34-32 lead at intermission. The score remained close throughout the second half, with each team leading by no more than six points. With the score tied at 52, KU would take the lead for good with 3:48 remaining on a jumper by Wood, who finished with eight points --- just eight shy of 1,000 for her career.
Other top scorers for the Golden Bears included
Natalya Lee (Feasterville, Pa./Rancocas Valley Regional), who had 12 points, and
Nicole Donahue (Wall, N.J./St. Rose), who poured in 10 before leaving the game late in the first half with an injury.
Hilliard scored a game-leading 25 points for Lock Haven. Kelsey Ryan added 11 points and 11 rebounds. Marrysa Moyer had 10 boards.
The Golden Bears shot 38.2 percent (26-of-68) for the game, and were a strong 11-of-13 (84.2 percent) from the charity stripe. The Lady Eagles shot 39.6 percent (21-of-53), going 16-of-23 (69.6 percent) from the free throw line.
With the win, Kutztown improves to 4-4, 3-2 PSAC East. Lock Haven falls to 2-6, 0-5 PSAC West.
The Golden Bears will return to action December 30 for a non-conference game at University of Sciences in Philadelphia.
