Box Score Kutztown 80, Clarion 70 (HTML Box Score)
CLARION, Pa. – After building a solid lead before the halftime break, the Kutztown University women's basketball team held off the Clarion University Golden Eagles on the road in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) crossover matchup on Tuesday evening, 80-70.
Just one game after
Advia Campbell (Mount Laurel, N.J./Lenape) set the school-record with 10 blocks and the first triple-double in the program's history, the junior followed up with a 10 point, 13 rebound performance, leading the Golden Bears (5-3, 2-1 PSAC) with a double-double past Clarion (2-5, 1-2).
With the squads even in the first eight minutes of play,
Kelsey Watson (Collegeville, Pa./Methacton) converted an and-one three-point play, sparking a 15-0 run for the Golden Bears. Now up 24-13, KU continued the hot-shooting and increased the run to 26-2, resulting in Kutztown's largest lead of the game (35-15). KU cruised in to the halftime break up by 17 points (41-24).
Kutztown finished the first half shooting 18-for-35 from the field, posting its highest single-half shooting percentage this season (51.4 percent).
Although the red-hot shooting cooled in the second half, Kutztown utilized solid defense and clutch free-throwing shooting to fend of the attacking Golden Eagles. Clarion put forth a valiant effort in the second-half comeback attempt, shooting 52.9 percent from the field after the break (18-34). However it was not enough, as KU secured the win by sinking 12-of-14 free throw attempts in the final four minutes of action to close out the 80-70 victory.
Campbell added three steals and two blocks in her double-double performance, finishing the day 5-for-6 from the field.
Junior
Alyssa Bonenberger (Walnutport, PA/Northampton Area) was the leading scorer for the Golden Bears, knocking down 13 points on 5-for-7 shooting, while also leading the squad with four assists.
Elisa Gaffney (Downingtown, Pa./Coatesville) came off the bench to drop in 11 points and bring down seven rebounds.
Starting guards
Natalya Lee (Feasterville, Pa./Rancocas Valley Regional) and
Jess Harvey (Barnegat, N.J./Rumson Fair-Haven Regional) contributed 10 and nine points, respectively, as the duo combined to shoot 7-for-8 from the free-throw stripe.
Forward Hannah Heeter also recorded a double-double in the game, leading the Golden Eagles with 16 points and 13 boards, her second consecutive double-double. Raven Jones also added 16 points for Clarion, with nine of them coming in the final 3:56 including a pair of 3-pointers in the last 37 seconds, while picking up two steals and two assists.
Kutztown will return to action right away, stopping in Johnstown tomorrow, Dec. 18, to take on Pitt-Johnstown in another road PSAC crossover matchup. Tipoff is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.
