KUTZTOWN, Pa. - The Kutztown University women's basketball team hung tough through the first two quarters in its home-opener against No. 8 California (PA) on Saturday afternoon, but were unable to pull off the upset as it fell to the Vulcans, 74-52, inside Keystone Arena in its first Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) game of the season.
 
Kutztown (1-2, 0-1 PSAC) started out strong with a 15-9 lead through the first 6:43 of the first quarter, but California (PA) (4-0, 1-0) closed out the frame on an 11-2 run to take a 20-17 lead heading into the second quarter.
 
Both teams fought back-and-forth in the second quarter as they each scored 15 points in the period. The Golden Bears trailed by just three, 35-32, as they headed into the half.
 
The third quarter proved to be pivotal, as the Vulcans outscored KU, 17-9, and took an 11-point advantage into the final quarter. California (PA) ran away from the Golden Bears in the fourth quarter, outscoring them 22-11 in the process.
 
Redshirt-sophomore Kalee Fuegel (Philadelphia, Pa./Saint Basil Academy) was KU's best player on the floor on Saturday, posting career-highs of 13 points (6-7 FG, 1-2 3PT) and six rebounds in 29 minutes. She was the only Golden Bear player to score in double-figures and the only starter to post a field goal percentage of over 50 percent as the team struggled from the field for the majority of the contest.
 
Senior Jenna Altomare (Pennsylvania Furnace, Pa./State College Area) posted seven points and extended her streak of consecutive games with a 3-pointer to 29. Freshman Sierra Taylor (Williamstown, N.J./Camden Catholic) posted six points (6-6 FT) and a season-high five assists, while Keifonna Ferguson (Norristown, Pa./Norristown Area) added six points and six rebounds off the bench.
 
Kelsey Watson (Collegeville, Pa./Methacton) recorded five points, a team-high nine rebounds and two blocks on Saturday. She sits at 990 career points, needing 10 more to become the 16th player in program history to reach 1,000.
 
Seairra Barrett led the way for the Vulcans with a game-high 27 points and nine rebounds in 38 minutes. Abbey Sporio posted 13 points off the bench, while Miki Glenn recorded a near triple-double with 10 points, seven rebounds and eight assists.
 
California (PA) had decisive advantages over Kutztown in both points in the paint (44-28) and points off turnovers (39-15).
 
The Golden Bears return to action tomorrow, Sunday, Nov. 20, at 1 p.m. as they host Slippery Rock inside Keystone Arena as Watson seeks to join the 1,000-point club.