MILLERSVILLE, Pa. – The Kutztown University women's basketball team pulled within three points after falling behind by ten early in the third quarter, but Millersville would pull away from the Maroon and Gold late in the period en route to a 62-40 victory in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division matchup at Pucillo Gymnasium on Saturday afternoon.
 
Neither team gained larger than a six-point lead until a Millersville (5-8 PSAC, 7-11) 3-pointer made the score 22-14 heading into the half. The Marauders then made a layup 14 seconds out of the locker room to establish a double-digit advantage, but KU would come back with the next seven points.
 
Two Kelsey Watson (Collegeville, Pa./Methacton) free throws began the run before Sierra Taylor (Williamstown, N.J./Camden Catholic) converted an and-one. Jenna Altomare (Pennsylvania Furnace, Pa./State College Area) then made 2-of-2 at the line to make the score 21-24 with 6:18 to play in the third quarter.
 
Although Millersville made a 3-pointer its next trip down the court, KU still kept the score within striking distance through much of the quarter as a Taylor Thames (Colmar, Pa./North Penn) layup at the 3:44 mark to make the score 27-32.  
 
The final three and a half minutes of the third turned to be a turning point though, with Millersville closing the quarter on a 13-4 run beginning with seven unanswered points. Alayah Hall made a 3-pointer to answer Thames' layup before Celeste Robinson scored four straight to push the lead to 39-27 in a matter of just 1:15.
 
The game would not be closer than 10 points the remainder of the afternoon.  
 
Taylor led Kutztown (3-10, 6-15) with 13 points, three assists and two steals. She also had three rebounds.
 
Watson was the only other Golden Bear to score more than four points as she had eight and added six rebounds to move into seventh place in program history with 726 for her career.
 
Alex Heck (Willow Grove, Pa./Archbishop Wood (Philadelphia U.)) had a team-high seven rebounds, while Keifonna Ferguson (Norristown, Pa./Norristown Area) matched Watson's six. 
 
Notably, Altomare's school record for making a 3-pointer ended at 44 consecutive games.
 
KU shot just 1-of-10 from 3-point range and 15-of-58 (25.9 percent) from the field.
 
Millersville made 22-of-51 (43.1) field goals and 6-of-19 (31.6) 3-pointers and also had a 24-11 edge in points off turnovers as each team turned the ball over 17 times.
 
Four Marauders scored in double figures, led by Aunjel Van Brakle and Celesete Robinson contributing 13 apiece. 
 
Kutztown returns to Keystone Arena to host West Chester on Wednesday, Jan. 25 at 5:30 p.m. The contest will mark the conclusion of "Bears Give Back" – KU's month-long food drive that will donate all non-perishable food donations to the on-campus food pantry and Friends Inc. Any fan who brings a donation to the game will gain entrance to a drawing for a Giant gift card, while any student-athlete who brings a donation will also receive a PSAC t-shirt with the league's new logo.