KUTZTOWN, Pa. – The Kutztown University women's basketball team accomplished a few things Saturday. In an 88-61 victory over Lock Haven at Keystone Arena, KU protected home court, ended the regular season with a win, sent seniors Kalee Fuegel (Philadelphia, Pa./Saint Basil Academy) and Taylor Thames (Colmar, Pa./North Penn) out on top, but also earned a share of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) East crown and secured the top overall seed in next week's PSAC Tournament.
 
The Golden Bears (17-11 overall, 14-6 PSAC) won a program-record 14th conference game, and have now won 11 straight games at Keystone Arena, a setting that, if they keep winning, will not have to leave until a potential NCAA Tournament run.
 
In their last regular season game wearing the Maroon and Gold, Fuegel and Thames continued to show their winning traits in leading Kutztown to Saturdaythe win. Fuegel finished Saturday with two points, two steals, two assists and one rebound. The redshirt-senior from Philadelphia concluded the regular season with 64 steals, fifth in the PSAC and second in the East. Thames tallied four points, four assists and one rebound.
 
A season-high five Golden Bears scored in double figures in the win, led by sophomore Alexis Smith (Dauphin, Pa./Central Dauphin) with 17 points. She connected on 4-of-7 from long range and added three rebounds and one steal. Rylee Derr (Lititz, Pa./Warwick) and Zoe Zerman (Jonestown, Pa./Northern Lebanon) each had 15 points. Zerman also grabbed five rebounds and dished out four assists, while Derr contributed four rebounds and four assists. Brianna Tarabocchia (Woodcliff Lake, N.J./Northern Valley Regional (Saint Peter's)) recorded 11 points and six rebounds, and Gabbi Wright (Elkins Park, Pa./Cheltenham) rounded out the KU quintet in double-figures with 11 points and four rebounds.
 
The Bald Eagles (14-13, 9-11) scored the game's opening basket, but that was the last time KU would be trailing as it tallied 22 of the game's net 31 points and led 22-11 after the opening quarter. Its lead climbed to as many as 23 several times throughout the second quarter and led 50-27 at halftime and never looked back.
 
Karen Lapkiewicz (Southampton, Pa./Saint Basil Academy) posted nine points and two rebounds. Kaylan Jackson (Germantown, Md./Clarksburg) tacked on four points to round out the KU scorers.
 
Kutztown will now be in wait and see mode as it will host the PSAC Quarterfinal on Wednesday, March 6, against the winner of the four seed Lock Haven and fifth seed East Stroudsburg matchup. It will be a 7 p.m. tip-off.