KU Game Notes | MU Live Stats | Live Video
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KUTZTOWN, Pa. – Winners of two straight in conference play, the Kutztown University women's basketball team travels west for the second time in 10 days to take on Mercyhurst University and Gannon University in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) action on Dec. 18-19, respectively.
 
After a 1-6 start, KU (3-6, 2-1 PSAC) has gotten back to its winning ways, downing Clarion and Pitt-Johnstown in its last two PSAC contests. In their last contest, the Golden Bears built a 23-11 first quarter lead, cruising to a 67-49 win over UPJ on the road.  Brianna Tarabocchia (Woodcliff Lake, N.J./Northern Valley Regional (Saint Peter's)) led the Maroon and Gold effort with her second double-double of the season, posting 13 points and 11 rebounds. Rylee Derr (Lititz, Pa./Warwick) netted three 3-PTs on her way to a team-high 15 points, her 31st straight game with at least one made three-pointer.
 
Tarabocchia, a transfer from Division-I Saint Peter's, has wasted little time in making her presence felt for Kutztown. The 6-0 junior is averaging 7.1 points per game and a team-high 7.8 rebounds per game, starting in all nine contests. The Woodcliff Lake, N.J.-native earned the PSAC's Eastern Division Athlete of the Week Award following her performance against UPJ, the first for KU since Alexis Smith (Dauphin, Pa./Central Dauphin) on Feb. 26, 2018.
 
The Maroon and Gold currently sit tied-third in the Eastern Division with Shippensburg at 2-1 behind undefeated Bloomsburg and Lock Haven. KU should have an opportunity to further climb the table in this midweek stretch of back-to-back roads games at MU and GU. Mercyhurst is yet to win in conference play at 0-3 and has a 1-7 overall record while the Golden Knights of Gannon sport a 5-5 overall record and 1-2 mark in PSAC play. The Maroon and Gold completed the sweep of these two sides on Dec. 2-3 last season and now have their sights set on repeating those results.
 
Mercyhurst, much like KU, gets much of its offensive production from beyond the three-point line, averaging 7.0 made 3-PTs per game, tied with KU for fourth in the PSAC. The Lakers are led by Maria Lapertosa and Nicolete Newman, whom are averaging 14.2 ppg and 13.8 ppg, respectively. Emily Shopene has shown her ability to run the MU attack, leading the team with 25 assists and adding 10.4 ppg. Mercyhurst's struggles this season have come on the defensive end, allowing 75.3 ppg, third-most in the PSAC.
 
Gannon plays a much more traditional style of attacking play, shooting 43.7 percent from the field, which ranks third in the PSAC. Nicole LaCava and Chelsea Rourke make up the Golden Knights' one-two punch inside, averaging 12.5 ppg and 12.1 ppg, respectively. Point guard Boston McKinney does most of the facilitating in the frontcourt, dishing out a team-high 3.4 assists per game. Gannon, like Kutztown, ranks in the top-six in points allowed, but in the bottom half in points scored, meaning the two sides should produce a very competitive tilt.
 
Live stats, video and game notes are available via the links above, which can also be accessed on www.kubears.com.