KUTZTOWN, Pa. - The Kutztown University women's basketball team is back in the win column, taking down Shepherd  in commanding fashion 63-47 on Saturday afternoon. The top two teams in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference East Division squared off in Keystone Arena and the 24th-ranked Golden Bears asserted themselves from the second quarter until the final whistle. 

Leading the charge was senior Rylee Derr (Lititz, Pa./Warwick), notching her fourth double-double of the season. Derr led all scorers with 18 points, while grabbing a career-high 18 rebounds for the Maroon and Gold (16-4 overall, 9-2 PSAC).

Casey Remolde's (Philadelphia, Pa./Saint Basil Academy) defensive prowess was on full display throughout the entirety of the game. Given the task of covering the PSAC's leading scorer, Abby Beeman, for the entire 40 minutes of the contest and managing to hold her to a season low of five points, also recording two steals and a block. Remolde was able to get it done on both ends of the court still, scoring 12 points matching teammate Zara Zerman (Jonestown, Pa./Northern Lebanon) to round out the Golden Bears leading scorers.

Shepherd (12-3, 6-3) had success in the first quarter making four of five shots from three point territory and leading by one after the first quarter. Kutztown bounced back in the second, outscoring the Rams 22-10 heading into half, shutting them down and not allowing any more points from beyond the arc. 

The Rams came out quick in the second half going on a seven point run, cutting Kutztown's lead down to only four points. The Golden Bears were able to fight off the Shepherd surge, scoring their first points of the second half nearly four and a half minutes into the quarter. Alexis Smith (Dauphin, Pa./Central Dauphin) managed to draw a foul and knock down both free throws and bring Shepherd's run to an end. Kutztown would go on a 15-2 run that lasted the final five minutes to bring the game to the fourth quarter.

The Golden Bears started the final period of play with a 17 point lead, the Rams made one final push cutting the lead down to single digits with 8:22 left to play. Again Kutztown was able to swing the momentum back to their side with a Zerman three pointer, ending the game on a 9-2 run. 

Naia Pulliam (Wilmington, Del./St. Elizabeth) recorded eight points, three rebounds and four assists. Abbey Hearn (Lewes, Del./Cape Henlopen) added six points and seven rebounds.

The Golden Bears will be on the road this Wednesday, Jan. 26, taking on the Mansfield Mountaineers at 5:30 p.m.