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KUTZTOWN, Pa. – After a remarkable buzzer-beating 3-pointer from beyond half court to end the third quarter by Taylor Thames (Colmar, Pa./North Penn), and a jumper by Kara Funk (Dover, Pa./Dover) 24 seconds into the fourth quarter capped a 15-3 run for a game-high 52-44 lead, the Kutztown University women's basketball team seemed well on its way to a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Quarterfinal.
 
Millersville (10-18) went on a 21-6 run over the next 9:20 though to end Kutztown's (13-18) season in heartbreaking fashion, 69-65, in the First Round of the PSAC Tournament on Monday night in Keystone Arena.
 
KU's 13 wins were its most since the 2012-13 season, while its 10 PSAC victories were tied for its most since 2012-13.
 
The Marauders began its run with five straight points before Karen Lapkiewicz (Southampton, Pa./Saint Basil Academy) made a layup with 7:41 remaining, Kutztown's only basket in a span of 6:34, to extend the lead back to 54-49.
 
Millersville responded with 10 unanswered this time though to take it first fourth quarter lead, 55-54, at the 5:14 mark on a free throw, and a five-point lead, 59-54, on a jumper with 3:51 remaining.

Back-to-back baskets by Alex Heck (Willow Grove, Pa./Archbishop Wood (Philadelphia U.)) and Sierra Taylor (Williamstown, N.J./Camden Catholic) got KU within one, 58-59, with just 2:31 to play and the game would remain scoreless for the next 2:45.
 
With the next bucket going a long way in determining the game's outcome, it was Millersville's Alayah Hall draining a jumper with just 46 seconds remaining to make the score 61-58.
 
Kutztown had two chances to tie the contest after an offensive rebound, but after the two misses the Marauders made 4-of-4 at the line over a span of 12 seconds to ice the game.
 
Playing in the final game of her KU career, Alex fell one rebound shy of her sixth double-double of the season with 16 points on 8-of-8 free throws.
 
Fellow senior Jenna Altomare (Pennsylvania Furnace, Pa./State College Area) had 13 points and added a season-high five rebounds. One game after becoming the program's all-time leader in 3-pointers, she made three more from beyond the arc to end her career with 198 triples. Her 71 3-pointers this season are also third all-time.
 
Senior Kelsey Watson (Collegeville, Pa./Methacton) gave Kutztown three players in double-figures with 10 points to go along with five rebounds. She ends her career in the top-seven of program history in points, rebounds, field goals made, free throws made and blocks.  
 
Rounding out KU's senior class was Funk, whose eight points on 4-of-6 shooting were tied for her second-highest total of the season.
 
Thames also had eight points off the bench as the Kutztown bench outscored Millersville's 18-4.
 
Notably, Taylor had two assists to end her freshman season with 131 – eighth all-time in the program annals.
 
KU made two more field goals, 25-23, than Millersville, and the two teams each made four 3-pointers. The major difference came at the free-throw line, where the Marauders made 19-of-27 free throws compared to the Maroon and Gold's 11-of-12.
 
Hall made a team-high 7-of-8 foul shots, and 10-of-15 field goals, en route to her game-high 29 points. She also led all players with four assists and two steals and added five rebounds.
 
Courtney Hinnant added 16 points, while Kendra Bamberger recorded a double-double with 11 points and a game-high 11 rebounds.
 
Kutztown took a game-high eight-point lead, 21-13, when Thames capped six unanswered with a layup 23 seconds before the first quarter horn. Not long after, Millersville had six straight of its own to tie the game at 22 with 7:09 left in the second.
 
Funk sank a jumper the next trip down the court though, and KU led throughout the remainder of the half. Millersville got as close as one, 29-30, on a 3-pointer, but the Maroon and Gold scored the final four points of the half. Heck made a jumper five seconds ahead of the buzzer to make the score 34-29.
 
Kutztown scored just three points in the opening 7:21 of the third quarter, and Millersville took advantage with a 12-2 surge to take its first lead and go on top 41-37 with 3:46 showing. Heck made two free throws 1:07 later to begin the Golden Bears' 15-3 run that put them on top with 52-44 with 9:36 to play.