KUTZTOWN, Pa. – The Kutztown University women's basketball team hosts the first round of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) playoffs against fifth-seeded Lock Haven University at Keystone Arena on Saturday, Feb. 28 at 1 p.m.
Ticket prices for the first round/quarterfinals are $7 for adults and $2 for students. All PSAC students are admitted free with a valid ID from a PSAC institution.
Last season, the Golden Bears won the first round of the playoffs against Shippensburg to give head coach
Janet Malouf her 300th career victory. Unfortunately, their playoff run was cut shortly after with a loss to West Chester in the quarterfinals. The Maroon and Gold, who are seeded at the number four spot in 2015, will look to make it past the quarterfinals of the playoffs, as they have been unable to do so in the previous four seasons. It will be no easy task to complete, however, as they are dead even with Lock Haven on the season.
Both teams finished the season with an 11-15 record overall and a 10-12 record in the conference. In the two games they played each other this season, each team has left a game as the victor. Lock Haven lost by double-digits (66-56) when it traveled to Kutztown, but was able to pick up a one-point victory on its home court (59-58). In both of the games, Lock Haven was shy from beyond the arc (nine attempts combined from both games), which was out of character for it since it averaged 9.5 attempts per game on the season. When looking at the PSAC overall statistics, these two teams seem to be within three or four spots of each other in a plethora of categories. These are two extremely even teams and it seems that the winner of this game will be determined by who brings their A-game on Saturday.
The Golden Bears have been led by four seniors this season who have all contributed to the success of the program.
Advia Campbell has been the top defensive player for the team this year, as she is showing the same defensive prowess she displayed last season when she won PSAC East Defensive Athlete of the Year honors. Not only has she been solid defensively, she is leading the team in scoring with 10.9 points per game. In the two games against LHU this season, Campbell is averaging a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds.
Despite not starting a game until Senior Night, Gaffney has really come on at the end of the season and has been a solid offensive option for the Golden Bears. One of her best performances this season came earlier this week against East Stroudsburg, when she had her first career double-double (15 points, 10 rebounds). In the past five games, Gaffney has averaged 9.4 points and five rebounds per game.
Junior guard
Natalya Lee has been the outside threat for the Golden Bears this season, as she leads the team in three-pointers made (28) and has also been the top distributor of the basketball (3.1 assists per game). Lee has had the hot hand against Lock Haven this season, as she is averaging 13.5 points in the two contests they have had, which is tied for most on the team with teammate
Kelsey Watson.
Alyssa Bonenberger, who has been a rock for the Golden Bears both defensively and offensively, has scored 874 career points and has hauled in 669 career rebounds. The senior forward has also started 106 of the 110 games she has played in as a Golden Bear.
In a new role,
Nicole Donahue has adapted from being in the starting lineup to becoming a spark off the bench for the Maroon and Gold. She has provided effective minutes for the team this season with a solid mid-range jump shot and an important paint presence on defense.
Lock Haven has been paced this season by Sami Lane (11.5 points per game, 2.1 steals per game) and Marrysa Moyer (9.8 points per game, 9.7 rebounds per game). In the past five games, Lock Haven has closed out the regular season 4-1.
The victor of this contest will travel to face top-seeded Bloomsburg University in the quarterfinals of the PSAC Championships. The game is slated for Tuesday, March 3 and tip-off is set to start at 7 p.m.
