Box Score California (PA) 63, Kutztown 52 (HTML Box Score)
KUTZTOWN, Pa. – In a back-and-forth Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) crossover battle, the Kutztown University women's basketball team allowed a 14-4 run in the final seven minutes of play to give the California University (PA) Vulcans the 63-52 victory from Keystone Arena on Saturday afternoon.
After eight lead changes and seven tie scores in the first 20 minutes of play, Kutztown (5-7) went into the locker room up by a bucket (26-24).
Advia Campbell (Mount Laurel, N.J./Lenape) already surpassed double-figure scoring and swatted away four Vulcan shot attempts in the first half. California (PA) (7-5) had shot a dismal 1-for-11 from beyond the arc and struggled to get the ball to the basket.
Coming out of the break, both teams traded baskets until midway through the second half. With 15 minutes still left to play, the Vulcans initiated an 11-6 run to go up 47-42, the largest lead of the game so far. The Maroon and Gold rallied to bring the game back within one, but Cal U countered with three-pointers and free throws to end the game on a 14-4 run, giving Kutztown its fourth-consecutive loss.
Campbell added four points in the second half to finish with a team-leading 14, along with five boards.
Alyssa Bonenberger (Walnutport, PA/Northampton Area) was able to provide more of an impact after being in foul trouble for most of the last game, leading the team with eight rebounds and adding nine points. The freshman duo of
Kara Funk (Dover, Pa./Dover) and
Kelsey Watson (Collegeville, Pa./Methacton) saw major minutes coming off the bench, with Funk putting up 12 points and Watson grabbing seven boards.
Elena Antonenko and Ashley Hines carried most of the weight for the Vulcans in Saturday's game. Antonenko recorded 18 points and six boards, including a 3-for-5 mark from three-point range. Hines shot 8-for-9 from the field coming off the bench, finishing with a game-high 19 points and eight rebounds, along with three steals.
Kutztown finished the game with better field-goal and three-point shooting percentages than its opponent, but 23 turnovers and Cal U's ability to get to the free-throw line proved to be crucial in the defeat.
The Golden Bears will wrap up their PSAC crossover stint on Wednesday, Jan. 8, going on the road to square off against last-place Slippery Rock University at 5:30 p.m.
