KUTZTOWN, Pa. – Peaking at the right time determines successful and non-successful seasons. Entering the playoffs having won three-in-a-row and 6-of-7 could be characterized as 'peaking at the right time' – which is what the Kutztown University women's basketball team's resume looks like. KU has battled its way to hosting a playoff game Monday night, Feb. 27, at 7 p.m. from Keystone Arena.
 
The Golden Bears are the No. 3 seed in the Eastern Division and host the sixth-seeded Marauders of Millersville University Monday night for a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) First Round game. The teams split their regular season series with each team winning on its home floor.
 
Kutztown (13-17) entered last week still needing to perform well to even make the playoffs. It closed its regular season winning on the road by double-digit points against playoff teams to earn the right to play a playoff game on its home floor for the second time in three years.
 
KU has made the PSAC Tournament in 18 of head coach Janet Malouf's 23 seasons. KU last won a playoff game on its home floor two years ago, but has not made a trip to the PSAC Final Four since 2010.
 
Millersville (9-18) has dropped six in a row, including a 51-49 loss to Kutztown at Keystone Arena on Feb. 18.
 
The winner of Monday night's game will travel to second-seeded East Stroudsburg University for the PSAC Quarterfinals on Wednesday, March 1.
 
Four starters have accounted for the bulk of KU's scoring this season. Jenna Altomare (Pennsylvania Furnace, Pa./State College Area) is coming off a sharp week from downtown, making nine 3-pointers in her two games last week to break KU's career record. She improved to second on the team in scoring at 11.8 points per game.
 
Alex Heck (Willow Grove, Pa./Archbishop Wood (Philadelphia U.)) leads KU at 12.9 per game. She scored 21 points at Bloomsburg Wednesday night – her best scoring effort since early January, and has proven to be able change a game with her jump shot. She adds 7.1 rebounds per game.
 
Senior Kelsey Watson (Collegeville, Pa./Methacton) leads KU in rebounding at 7.4 per game, while adding 11.2 points per game. She has scored 1,298 points in her career – sixth in school history.
 
Sierra Taylor (Williamstown, N.J./Camden Catholic), a four-time Freshman of the Week in the PSAC East this season, posts averages of 11.4 points and a team-leading 4.3 assists from her point guard position. She has started all 30 games as a true freshman.