ERIE, Pa. – Despite a valiant effort by senior guard Natalya Lee (Feasterville, Pa./Rancocas Valley Regional), the Kutztown University women's basketball team suffered a 59-58 loss on Sunday afternoon at Mercyhurst in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) matchup inside the Mercyhurst Athletic Center.
 
Mercyhurst (2-3, 2-1 PSAC) got off to an early 12-2 lead in the first five minutes of action in the opening quarter. Kutztown (2-1, 2-1) managed to end the quarter on a 10-2 run to get within two points.
 
KU opened the second quarter of play with an 8-3 push and went into the half with a 27-23 lead over the Lakers.
 
Mercyhurst struck back in the third, outscoring the Golden Bears 23-13 and taking a six-point lead into the final quarter. KU was down 10 points at the 5:22 mark in the fourth, but went on a 15-6 run in the final five minutes to give itself a chance. The Lakers hung on for the 59-58 win, despite the late charge by the Golden Bears.
 
Lee scored a game-high 21 points, her second 20-point game of the season. She was 8-of-13 from the field and also chipped in three assists and three steals. Lee also eclipsed the 900 career point plateau in her KU career. She has 910 career points, just 90 shy of 1,000.
 
Junior Kelsey Watson (Collegeville, Pa./Methacton) scored 18 points to go with four rebounds and two blocks. Jenna Altomare (Pennsylvania Furnace, Pa./State College Area) scored nine points and grabbed five boards.
 
Kara Funk (Dover, Pa./Dover) recorded seven points and a career-high seven rebounds. Keifonna Ferguson (Norristown, Pa./Norristown Area) had six rebounds, while Gina Lewis (Atlantic City, N.J./Holy Spirit) tallied five.
 
Mercyhurst was led by Angela Heintz, who scored a team-high 20 points (5-11 FG, 3-4 3PT, 7-7 FT). Natalie Piaggesi recorded 13 points and nine rebounds, while Adrienne Kloecker had 11 points and six assists.
 
Kutztown's next game is at home on Tuesday, Nov. 24 at 6 p.m. against Chestnut Hill College at Keystone Arena.