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KUTZTOWN, Pa. – In the midst of a two-game skid, the Kutztown women's basketball team travels to Mansfield University on Saturday, Feb. 10 for the first of a crucial stretch of six Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) games in 14 days to conclude its regular season. Tip-off from Decker Gymnasium is slated for 1 p.m.
 
Slow starts have plagued KU (12-10, 7-9 PSAC) in its last two contests, outscored by a combined total of 82-57 in the first half in defeats to Bloomsburg and West Chester. In its last contest, Kutztown could not solve a streaking WCU, which shot 63 percent from the field on its way to a 93-69 victory, winning its 12th straight game. Rylee Derr (Lititz, Pa./Warwick), after a couple tough games against Shippensburg and Bloomsburg, got back on track, making 4-of-6 three-pointers for a team-high 15 points. Taylor Thames (Colmar, Pa./North Penn) continued her effective play since her insertion into the starting lineup, scoring 11 points to join Derr in double-figures, increasing her scoring average to 10.0 ppg in 15 starts this season.
 
Head coach Janet Malouf's squad should be well-rested headed into Saturday's tilt with Mansfield, enjoying a week off from game action for the first time since Christmas Break. In other PSAC East competition on Wednesday and Thursday evening, both teams which sandwich the fourth-place Golden Bears in the standings claimed victories. Third-place Millersville moved itself 1.5 games ahead of KU with a 72-65 victory over Shippensburg, winning its second-straight game to move to 9-9 in the PSAC. Fifth-place Bloomsburg secured its third-straight win, defeating Cheyney 60-53 to improve its record to 6-12 in conference play. The Maroon and Gold sit two games ahead of Bloomsburg in fourth place with one more victory and two less games played, but will need to perform well in their last six games to hold off a hot Husky side in hopes of clinching a top-four spot and a first-round home game.
 
Looking towards Saturday's contest, Kutztown will attempt to sweep the season series against Mansfield and win its 12th consecutive game over the Mountaineers, a streak which dates back to the 2011-12 season. In a meeting at Keystone Arena on Jan. 10, both sides struggled offensively in the first half, totaling a combined 58 first half points. The KU offense proved itself, however, in the final 20 minutes, totaling 46 points after the halftime break to claim a decisive 79-60 win. Thames scored 15 and Derr added 12 to lead the Golden Bears, but it was a balanced attack in which 12 different players tallied points which proved to be the difference.
 
Mountaineer forward Brielle Kelly, scored a game-high 16 points and will certainly be a player to key on for KU, if available, holding team-high averages of 19.5 ppg and 6.6 rpg. Kelly has missed MU's last two contests, losses to East Stroudsburg and West Chester. In her absence, freshman Mia Leonard has scored in double-digits in two consecutive games, averaging 14.5 ppg and 11.5 rpg against ESU and WCU. Overall, Mansfield has dropped five-straight PSAC East games, last winning on Jan. 20 at Bloomsburg.
 
Defensive pressure will be paramount for Kutztown, facing off with a Mansfield side which leads the PSAC with 20.8 turnovers per game. On the flip side, the Maroon and Gold are second in the conference, forcing 21.3 turnovers per game and have shown their ability to turn defense into offense when able to bait opponents into miscues. The Mountaineers are also second-to-last in the PSAC in scoring, totaling just 59.2 ppg compared to KU's 66.8 ppg. A slow-paced, defensive game will certainly favor MU and their style of play, meaning it will be important for the Maroon and Gold to apply pressure and get out and run in transition, scoring early and often to swing the result in their direction. 
 
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