KUTZTOWN, Pa. – Junior
Kelsey Watson (Collegeville, Pa./Methacton) led the Kutztown University women's basketball team with a career-high 24 points, but it was not enough to take down the Crimson Hawks of Indiana University (PA) as KU fell 80-74 in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Crossover contest on Saturday afternoon at Keystone Arena.
Entering the game, Kutztown (4-3, 2-3 PSAC) facing IUP (6-3, 3-2) was a heavily anticipated game that was slated to be a close contest. The prediction proved to measure up to the hype.
Watson, the main contributor to the Golden Bear offense, came away with six rebounds, four assists and three blocks to go along with her career-high 24 points. She also added three steals to her stat-line while also shooting 11-for-21 from the field.
Jenna Altomare (Pennsylvania Furnace, Pa./State College Area), along with senior guard
Natalya Lee (Feasterville, Pa./Rancocas Valley Regional) recorded 19 points apiece. Lee dished out seven assists while Altomare hit five three-pointers. Lee now needs 19 points to reach her 1,000th career point to be the 15th Golden Bear in history to do so.
In the fourth quarter, the Golden Bears held on till the last minute, trailing 75-72 off an Altomare three-pointer. However, IUP held on with three free-throws and a layup to end the game.
Sophomore
Keifonna Ferguson (Norristown, Pa./Norristown Area) held the team-high for rebounds with seven while playing 24 minutes off the bench.
Taylor Thames (Colmar, Pa./North Penn) provided quality minutes off the bench as she scored four points, dished out two assists and came up with two steals.
The Golden Bears were efficient from beyond the arc as they shot 50 percent, while the Crimson Hawks only shot 38.9 percent from downtown. Even though KU was more efficient from deep, IUP proved to be dominant in the paint as it outscored the Golden Bears, 42-24.
The Crimson Hawks were led by Leslie Stapleton, as she gained her 1000th career point while earning 23 points in the contest. Zhane Brooks earned the team-high with 24 points and 10 rebounds, and Megan Smith scored 14 points.
The Golden Bears will travel to Lock Haven, Pa. to face the Bald Eagles on Wednesday, Dec. 16 at 5:30 p.m.
