Live Stats |
Live Video (Golden Bear Network) |
Game Notes
KUTZTOWN, Pa. – Victorious in 8-of-9 home contests this season, the Kutztown University women's basketball team returns to Keystone Arena in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) matchup with the Cheyney University Wolves on Wednesday evening, Jan. 17. Tip-off is slated for 5:30 p.m.
In their last game, the Golden Bears (9-7, 4-6 PSAC) ran into a hot-shooting Millersville side on the afternoon of Saturday, Jan. 13, falling to the Marauders on the road, 85-58. A 13-3 run to close out the first half staked Millersville to a 43-28 advantage headed into the break, a margin it would maintain the rest of the way. As a team, MU shot a blistering 53.3 percent from the field and 44.4 percent from distance, keeping KU at a comfortable distance for the entirety of the final 20 minutes.
Kutztown was led by freshmen phenoms
Rylee Derr (Lititz, Pa./Warwick) and
Alexis Smith (Dauphin, Pa./Central Dauphin), whom both tallied 11 points, the sixth time this season both have recorded a double-digit scoring output.
Gabbi Wright (Elkins Park, Pa./Cheltenham) joined this duo as the third member of the Maroon and Gold in double-figures, scoring 10 points on 4-of-9 shooting. KU is now 1-5 in games played away from Keystone Arena and is still in search of its first road win in the PSAC this season.
The Maroon and Gold now turns its focus to Wednesday night's tilt with Cheyney (3-13, 1-9 PSAC), a team KU has experienced unparalleled success against under head coach
Janet Malouf. In the last 15 meetings between these two sides, Kutztown is 14-1 against the Wolves dating back to the 2009-10 season. Cheyney's inside-outside combo of forward Yasmine Dorrielan and guard TaKayla Ellis will be one to key for the Golden Bear defense. Dorrielan, a 6-1 junior, is nearly averaging a double-double, posting 9.4 ppg and 9.3 rpg, which ranks third in the PSAC. TaKayla Ellis leads the Wolves in points and assists per game, scoring at a 12.1 ppg clip and dishing out 2.9 assists per contest.
KU, which is averaging 75.5 ppg at home, will be looking to score early and often against a Cheyney offense which averages just 59.9 ppg. A good shooting night for the Golden Bears with Smith and Derr as the catalysts will likely mean a one-sided affair in the way of the Maroon and Gold. However, a grind-it-out, low-scoring game is what the Wolves will be hoping for and, if that comes to fruition, fans could be in for a nail-biter.
A win for Kutztown will allow it to keep pace with third-place Millersville, whom will face last-place Lock Haven on Wednesday night, trailing the Marauders by just a half-game in the PSAC Eastern Division Standings. Coupling its success at home this season with its domination of Cheyney in this series, KU will have the opportunity for another statement victory in front of a raucous Keystone Arena crowd.
Live stats, live video with commentary via the Golden Bear Network and game notes will be available via the links above, which are also accessible on www.kubears.com.
