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- WFMZ: Big night for Kutztown Hoops vs. Mansfield

KUTZTOWN, Pa. – With a commanding opening run, the Kutztown University women's basketball team defeated Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) East Division foe Mansfield, 62-39, Wednesday evening at Keystone Arena, giving the Golden Bears their first three-game home win streak over PSAC opponents since Jan. 2013.
 
With its second straight victory, KU (9-16, 6-11 PSAC) now holds possession of sixth place in the PSAC East – the division's final playoff berth - by two games with five contests left in the season.
 
Wednesday's win extended the Maroon and Gold's win streak over the Mounties to 10 games dating back to the 2012-13 regular season, as they have swept the season series in each of the last five years.
 
The 39 points and 21.7 percent field goal percentage by Mansfield were the lowest totals KU has allowed since Washington Adventist scored 39 points on 19.4 percent shooting on Dec. 9, 2010.
 
Opening on an 18-0 run capped off by Sierra Taylor (Williamstown, N.J./Camden Catholic), the Golden Bears kept Mansfield scoreless for the first 8:32 of play. KU continued its impressive lead over the Mountaineers for the rest of the first half, take a 33-7 advantage into the locker room.
 
Mansfield began the second half scoring four straight points, but Kutztown responded shortly after with five, sparked by Jenna Altomare (Pennsylvania Furnace, Pa./State College Area)'s 3-pointer at the 6:20 mark that was followed by Kelsey Watson (Collegeville, Pa./Methacton)'s jumper forty seconds later. The Mounties were not able to reduce their point deficit, and the Golden Bears held a dominating lead for the rest of the evening.
 
KU's starters led the charge, racking up 49 of the total points scored. Alex Heck (Willow Grove, Pa./Archbishop Wood (Philadelphia U.)) led the Golden Bears with 13 points and added six rebounds.
 
Waston was right behind her with 12 points and seven rebounds as she now sits in seventh place for points scored in program history with 1,259 for her career,
 
Karen Lapkiewicz (Southampton, Pa./Saint Basil Academy), who hit a career-high two 3-pointers, also racked up 12 points to go along with four rebounds.
 
Both Keifonna Ferguson (Norristown, Pa./Norristown Area) and Taylor also picked up career highs on the evening;  Ferguson with 14 rebounds and Taylor with nine assists.
 
Alex Leader (Hummelstown, Pa./Lower Dauphin) helped the Maroon and Gold bolster their lead with a career-high five points off the bench.
 
Altomare is now tied for ninth in single-season program history with 52 3-pointers.
 
The Mounties (5-17, 3-15 PSAC) were led by Tianna Jackson, who scored ten points.
 
Looking for their first three-game winning streak since 2015, the Golden Bears hit the road for their next game at Cheyney University this Saturday, Feb. 11 at 3 p.m.