Video Replay (KUTV) | WFMZ Highlights
KUTZTOWN, Pa. – The Kutztown University women's basketball team shot a season-best 59.3 percent from the field and posted five players in double figures as KU returned to the win column Monday night with a 89-64 win over Cheyney University in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division action at keystone Arena.
The Golden Bears (5-12, 2-7 PSAC) led from the onset in their ninth-straight home win over the Wolves (1-8, 1-8). Kutztown's 59.3 shooting percentage was its best since 2009 - an increase of 38 percent from its last game Friday night.
The Wolves outrebounded Kutztown by 15 (53-38), had more than 30 more shot attempts than KU (86-54), but their 26.7 percent shooting from the field prevented them from taking advantage.
Sierra Taylor (Williamstown, N.J./Camden Catholic) led the way for the Golden Bears. She made her first four shots and scored 13 of her team-high 19 points in the first half. She dished out eight assists and shot 7-of-8 from the field.
Kelsey Watson (Collegeville, Pa./Methacton) posted her team-leading fourth double-double of the season with 15 points and 11 rebounds, despite not playing the fourth quarter. She shot 7-of-10 from the field with a game-high three blocks.
In the process, Watson moved into ninth all-time in scoring at KU with 1,178 career points, and grabbed her 700th career rebound – the eighth player in school history to do so.
Cheyney entered the night ranked in the top-four in the PSAC in just one offensive category, and it showed why Monday night. Entering Monday ranked fourth in the league in offensive rebounds, Cheyney rattled off an eye-opening 35 offensive rebounds against KU.
KU led by double-digits in the first half and by eight at halftime, but two triples by
Jenna Altomare (Pennsylvania Furnace, Pa./State College Area) and a jumper by
Alex Heck (Willow Grove, Pa./Archbishop Wood (Philadelphia U.)) to open the second half extended Kutztown's lead to 42-26 just more than a minute into the third quarter.
The 3-pointers were Altomare's first two of the game, extending her school-record streak to 41 consecutive games with a made 3-pointer.
Taylor Thames (Colmar, Pa./North Penn) scored a career-high 13 points, highlighted by a 7-for-8 performance at the free throw line. She added a season-high-tying four assists. Heck and Altomare each added 10 points.
Cheyney did trim its deficit back to single-digits in the third quarter, but KU ended the third with a 12-point lead and outscored Cheyney in the fourth, 33-20.
Marlon Herring grabbed 12 offensive rebounds for the Wolves – finishing with game-highs of 20 points and 17 rebounds. Adriene Small finished with 12 points for Cheyney.
The Golden Bears look ahead to their second of three games this week – a road contest at East Stroudsburg University on Wednesday, Jan. 11 at 6 p.m.
