KUTZTOWN, Pa. – The Kutztown University women's basketball team met a freight train that is third-ranked Indiana (PA) and dropped its Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) opener 72-41 on Saturday afternoon at Keystone Arena.
The Golden Bears (1-6 overall, 0-1 PSAC) returned home for their first game since Nov. 10 at their season-opening tournament.
The Crimson Hawks (6-0, 1-0) entered the game as the PSAC-leader in scoring at 89.2 points per game, and the KU defense held them below their season-average. IUP has also won its previous five games by an average of 41 points and KU was well beneath that mark.
Kutztown ranked fifth in the PSAC with 7.5 made three-pointers, but was held to just three all game. It went 3-of-22 (13.6%) from three and 14-for-49 (28.6%) from the field. The Crimson Hawks shot 43.3-percent (29-of-67) from the floor and 26.3-percent (5-of-19) from long distance.
Rylee Derr (Lititz, Pa./Warwick) led the team with nine points and added eight rebounds and three assists.
Kaylan Jackson (Germantown, Md./Clarksburg) had an efficient game, recording eight points, including 2-for-2 from three-point land in 13 minutes.
Zoe Zerman (Jonestown, Pa./Northern Lebanon) and
Brianna Tarabocchia (Woodcliff Lake, N.J./Northern Valley Regional (Saint Peter's)) each added five points.
Taylor Thames (Colmar, Pa./North Penn) had four points and
Karen Lapkiewicz (Southampton, Pa./Saint Basil Academy) and
Presley Berryhill (New Oxford, Pa./New Oxford) both netted three points. It was the first points of Berryhill's collegiate career.
Gabbi Wright (Elkins Park, Pa./Cheltenham) rounded out the scoring for KU with two points.
KU started slow out of the game, trailing 11-0 in the first quarter and did not record its first field goal until the 8:01 mark of the second quarter. It trailed 27-4 after one quarter and was unable to get any closer than 18 in the second quarter.
Kutztown has a quick turnaround for its next game as it hosts Clarion for Youth Day tomorrow, Sunday, at 1 p.m. at Keystone Arena.
