Game Notes | Live Stats | Live Audio (KUR)
KUTZTOWN, Pa. – The Kutztown University women's basketball team takes back-to-back wins into its final game of 2016 on Friday night. The Golden Bears open Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division play tomorrow, Dec. 30, at Keystone Arena against Shippensburg University. Tip-off is set for 5:30 p.m.
The Golden Bears (4-9, 1-4 PSAC) are coming off consecutive wins for the first time this season, including an overtime win on Wednesday over Wilmington – KU's third overtime appearance in its last four games. They have gone 1-4 through the majority of PSAC crossover play with the finale set for Jan. 3 vs. Clarion.
Despite the record, KU stands in a tie for fourth in the PSAC East, matching the Raiders mark of 6-5, 1-4. The West has held supreme thus far in crossover games, winning 36-of-45 games (80 percent).
Shippensburg was picked to win the East this year with 8-of-9 first-place votes. It had three seniors named to the Preseason All-Conference Team and is coming off a PSAC Quarterfinal appearance last season.
Kutztown's goal has been not only to return to the playoffs this season, but to reign victorious in postseason competition. Despite losing two starters to injury in the early-going, KU has rallied behind a multitude of players.
Alex Heck (Willow Grove, Pa./Archbishop Wood (Philadelphia U.)) has stepped up on both ends of the floor. She has posted double-doubles in two of her last three games and is coming off a career-high 28 points against Wilmington. She has grabbed 13+ rebounds in her last three games and is averaging 8.2 per game – ninth in the PSAC. She has also made 13 straight free throws.
Kelsey Watson (Collegeville, Pa./Methacton) has teamed with Heck as one of the best frontlines in the league. Combined with Watson's 14.1 points and 8.6 rebounds per game – seventh in the PSAC – the duo averages 29 points and 16.8 rebounds per game. Watson is coming off 22 points against Wilmington and battled through an early-injury that she later returned from to move into 10th all-time at KU with 1,144 career points.
Jenna Altomare (Pennsylvania Furnace, Pa./State College Area) continues to lead the PSAC at 3.0 3-pointers per game. She has made a 3-pointer in a school-record 37-straight games and is shooting a career-best 38.8 percent from downtown.
Sophomore
Taylor Thames (Colmar, Pa./North Penn) provided energy off the bench in Wednesday's win with a season-high 12 points, while freshmen
Sierra Taylor (Williamstown, N.J./Camden Catholic) has thrived as the starting point guard at 10.5 points and 3.7 assists per game.
As a team, Kutztown ranks second in the East at 71.8 points per game, while Shippensburg follows at fourth at 68.2.
For the Raiders, Stephanie Knauer leads the way at 14.6 points and 6.6 rebounds. Morgan Griffith is sixth in the PSAC at 8.8 rebounds per game to go along with 10.4 points. Lauren Gold averages 11.1 points, followed by Colleen Young (10.9) and Logan Snyder (10.8) to round out Shippensburg's top-five scorers.
Fans attending Friday night's game – don't forget about KU's "Bears Give Back" food drive campaign. Anyone who brings one non-perishable food donation to any of the basketball games will be given a ticket that can be redeemed for a free hotdog or bag of chips at the concession stand. Cash donations are also accepted.
