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KUTZTOWN, Pa. – The Kutztown University women's basketball team forced Mercyhurst University into 16 turnovers in the first half to build a 31-point lead going into the locker room on Sunday. The Golden Bears were able to cruise in the second half on their way to a 76-53 victory over the Lakers in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) crossover action from Keystone Arena.
 
Kutztown (5-7, 4-5 PSAC) put the heat on from the start with a suffocating full-court press, and sophomore Kelsey Watson (Collegeville, Pa./Methacton) was dialed in as she continued her recent hot streak for the Golden Bears.
 
In the first half, Watson shot 6-for-8 from the field for 13 points and brought down nine boards. She continued to dominate in the second half, finishing the contest with game-highs in points (19) and rebounds (13) for her fourth double-double this season and her seventh-straight game scoring in double figures.
 
Her 19 points is a season-high and ties her career-mark that she set twice last year as a freshman, while her 13 rebounds is tied for second-best in her career. Seven of her boards came off the offensive glass on Sunday, which is a career-high.
 
Once Kutztown broke the scoreless tie 39 seconds in, KU remained on top for the entirety of the game. The Golden Bears led by as many as 37 points in the opening minutes of the second half for the largest lead of the contest.
 
By the end of the first half, Kutztown led 54-23 and held the turnover advantage by a tremendous margin (16-3), while knocking down a season-high seven three-pointers in just 20 minutes.
 
The Golden Bears were able to take a step back in the second half, and worked the entire active lineup onto the floor for playing time.
 
Point guard Brianna Morales (Bethlehem, Pa./Bethlehem Catholic (Northampton County Community College)) shot 4-for-9 from the field, 4-for-6 from the free-throw line and 2-for-3 from beyond the arc to finish with a season-high 14 points. She also brought down four rebounds.
 
Natalya Lee (Feasterville, Pa./Rancocas Valley Regional) and Jenna Altomare (Pennsylvania Furnace, Pa./State College Area) contributed 11 points apiece.  Lee filled out the stat sheet with three rebounds, two assists and a steal on 5-for-8 shooting, while Altomare nailed a season-high three triples and added three takeaways.
 
Jess Harvey (Barnegat, N.J./Rumson Fair-Haven Regional) recorded all of her seven points and three assists in the first half, highlighted by a buzzer-beater three-pointer at the halftime horn. Advia Campbell (Mount Laurel, N.J./Lenape) led the team with four assists, while adding five boards and two steals.
 
Mercyhurst's (3-11, 1-8) highest scorer was Angela Heintz with 13 points, but Natalie Piaggesi was the most effective. Piaggesi finished with 10 points, 10 rebounds, four blocks and three assists in 38 minutes played.
 
The Golden Bears forced the Lakers into 21 turnovers throughout the contest, the second highest total by a KU opponent this season.
 
The Maroon and Gold hit the road for one game before returning home for two. KU will have a short turnaround before heading out west to Erie for a 5:30 matchup with Gannon University this Wednesday, Jan. 7.