KUTZTOWN, Pa. – The Kutztown University women's basketball team tipped off its official 2018-19 season on Friday evening, playing host to the KU Conference Challenge at Keystone Arena, falling to the Lincoln (PA) University Lions 86-71 in non-conference action. 
 
KU came out strong in the first half against Lincoln, building a nine-point lead at the break, ahead 40-31. However, a resilient Lion squad would have the final say, cutting its deficit to three at the end of the third quarter before outscoring the Golden Bears 26-8 in the last 10 minutes to claim the victory. 
 
Rylee Derr (Lititz, Pa./Warwick), the reigning Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference leader in 3-PTs per game, picked up right where she left off, knocking down five triples on her way to a team-high 19 points. Kaylan Jackson (Germantown, Md./Clarksburg) scored 11 points in the first half, making both of her 3-PT attempts, and finished with a career-high 13 points in just 12 minutes. Alexis Smith (Dauphin, Pa./Central Dauphin) provided a spark off the bench as well, going 3-for-6 from distance and scoring 12 points, the third and final Golden Bear in double figures. Brianna Tarabocchia (Woodcliff Lake, N.J./Northern Valley Regional (Saint Peter's)) led the way on the glass with seven rebounds and added one block and two steals in her first official tilt in Maroon and Gold. 
 
As a team, Kutztown shot 33.3 percent from distance, making 12 total triples with five different Golden Bears netting at least one. KU went 21-for-27 from the free-throw line, shooting at an efficient 75 percent clip. The Lions were also effective from the charity stripe, knocking down 25 of their 28 attempts. 
 
Much of Lincoln's second-half run was fueled by second-chance opportunities as the Maroon and Gold were out-rebounded by the Lions 51-27 in the game. The outstanding play of Lion guard, DeAshia Young, who scored a game-high 31 points, was also a major factor as Young made several difficult shots down the stretch to seal the win. 
 
Kutztown, who looked the better team for the first three quarters of play, will have to put this one behind itself quickly as it prepares to take on Fayetteville State at 5 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 10.