MILLERSVILLE, Pa. -- Coming into Thursday night's PSAC East matchup at Millersville, the Kutztown University women's basketball team had been living comfortably from beyond the arc, hitting 12 or more 3-pointers in four of its last seven games.

Unfortunately for the Golden Bears, they couldn't conjure that same long-range magic against the Marauders. Kutztown was just 5-of-31 from deep, including 0-of-12 in the second half, in suffering a 68-55 defeat at Pucillo Gymnasium.

Rylee Derr (Lititz, Pa./Warwick) and Karen Lapkiewicz (Southampton, Pa./Saint Basil Academy) both recorded lines of 12 points and nine rebounds, while Gabbi Wright (Elkins Park, Pa./Cheltenham) added 11 points off the bench.

The early returns showed no signs of Kutztown slowing down from its recent 3-point barrage. Kalee Fuegel (Philadelphia, Pa./Saint Basil Academy), Zoe Zerman (Jonestown, Pa./Northern Lebanon), Wright and Derr each drained a triple in the opening 7:09 as the Bears (12-6 PSAC, 15-11) took a 21-11 lead.

Millersville (9-9, 12-13) drew within 21-19 by the end of the first quarter and gained control over the second and third by outscoring KU 35-22. The Golden Bears shot just 5-of-34 from the field in falling behind by double digits.

Wright converted back-to-back layups to start the fourth and Kutztown only trailed by five, 54-49, when Brianna Tarabocchia (Woodcliff Lake, N.J./Northern Valley Regional (Saint Peter's)) turned a Fuegel steal into another layup with 6:27 remaining.

Following a timeout, the Marauders received 3-pointers from Courtney Dimoff and Samantha Brusha on their next two offensive possessions. Olivia Mottern's layup with 3:45 left capped an 8-0 run and pushed MU's lead to 13.

Kutztown remains tied atop the PSAC East after Bloomsburg lost at East Stroudsburg, 72-48. West Chester closed the gap in the race for a top two spot with a 62-51 victory at Lock Haven, but the Maroon and Gold can still clinch a first round bye and home quarterfinal game with a West Chester loss Saturday against East Stroudsburg.

Tarabocchia totaled nine points and four boards for KU, which edged Millersville 41-38 on the glass. Nearly half of the Golden Bears' 68 field goal attempts came from 3-point range. Kutztown ended the night shooting 26.5% overall (18-of-68).

Mottern paced the Marauders with 18 points and six rebounds. Reigning PSAC East Player of the Week Lauren Lister had 16 points and Kennedy Middleton had 11 points and seven boards.

Kutztown has a rare Saturday off before heading up to East Stroudsburg next Wednesday, Feb. 27, for a 6 p.m. tip-off.