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KUTZTOWN, Pa. – Alex Heck (Willow Grove, Pa./Archbishop Wood (Philadelphia U.)) became the first Golden Bear in more than five years to score 30 points. She helped the Kutztown University women's basketball team climb out of a 12-point deficit in the second half, but trailing by two in the final seconds, KU was unable to beat the buzzer in a 79-77 setback to Clarion University at Keystone Arena Tuesday night in the team's final Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) crossover game of the season.
 
Heck and Sierra Taylor (Williamstown, N.J./Camden Catholic) combined for 49 points, led by Heck's game- and career-high 30. She shot 12-for-18 from the field and 6-for-7 from the free throw line. Notably, she missed her final free throw attempt of the night, snapping a streak of 22 consecutive makes.
 
KU's last player to score 30 was Ashley Wood (33) on Nov. 11, 2011.  The last Golden Bear to score 30 at Keystone Arena was KU Hall of Famer Melissa McQuade (30) on Jan. 22, 2011.
 
Taylor fed Heck most of the night with a game-high eight assists. She scored 19 points on 9-of-12 shooting and had a strong shooting night outside the paint.
 
Clarion ended the first half on an 11-0 run – part of a 13-0 run into the third quarter to take an 11-point lead at 45-34. It made all four of its field goals and free throws in the run while holding KU to 0-for-4 from the field. Notably, Taylor and Heck combined for 26-of-34 first-half points for Kutztown.
 
The Clarion lead grew to as many as 12 early in the third quarter, but Kutztown stopped the draught there and began its comeback. KU outscored Clarion by four in the third and made its move midway through the fourth quarter to regain the lead.
 
Midway through the final quarter, KU burst on a 10-2 run, highlighted by 6-of-8 shooting at the free throw line, to take its first lead of the second half with 4:07 to play (73-72).
 
Heck tied the game at 77 with 1:56 to play, as missed shots by both teams took action to the final minute. Clarion split free throws with 49 seconds left to take a 78-77 lead, but KU was unable to find the go-ahead basket. It trailed by two with six seconds left and dribbled the length of the floor, but was unable to get a shot attempt off before the buzzer sounded.
 
Rounding out KU's double-digit scorers, Jenna Altomare (Pennsylvania Furnace, Pa./State College Area) finished with 12 points with two 3-pointers, extending her school-record streak to 39 straight games with a made 3.
 
Kutztown shot an impressive 54.5 percent from the field, but 56 percent from the free throw line combined with 12 Clarion 3-pointers played significant factors in the decision. Jordan Bekelja and Tyra Polite scored 21 and 20 points for the Golden Eagles, respectively.
 
Kara Funk (Dover, Pa./Dover) dished out seven assists as KU finished with a 22/13 assist/turnover ratio.
 
Kutztown hits the road and returns to PSAC East play for the remainder of the season, beginning this Friday, Jan. 6 at 5:30 p.m.