KUTZTOWN, Pa. – The Kutztown defense stepped up, holding California (Pa.) without a field goal in the fourth quarter as the offense attempted to comeback from down double-digits. But time just ran out on KU, dropping the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) crossover game against Cal, 48-47, Friday afternoon at Keystone Arena.
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The Golden Bears (5-6 overall, 3-2 PSAC) found themselves trailing by 15 (45-30) after the third quarter, but scored the first 11 points of the fourth in the opening 4:03. They were behind by as many as 17 (45-28) with 2:23 left in the third. That was the last time that the Vulcans (7-4, 3-2) connected on a field goal the rest of the way.
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Kutztown pulled to within 45-41 with 5:57 left to play and then as close as 46-44 with 1:03 to go. KU then had a chance to tie or take the lead following a missed Vulcans 3-point attempt and
Annie Whalen (Ivyland, Pa./Archbishop Wood) rebound. But the ensuing offensive possession came up empty for KU. Three straight misses from the field by the Golden Bears, all within a span of 0:27, before a Cal defensive rebound with 0:05 remaining gave Halle Herrington two free-throws with 1.7 to go. She connected on both to put her team up by four before a
Abbey Hearn (Lewes, Del./Cape Henlopen) 3-pointer went in as time expired.
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Hearn led all scorers with 21 points and added seven rebounds. She was the lone Golden Bear in double figures.
Casey Remolde (Philadelphia, Pa./Saint Basil Academy) and
Zara Zerman (Jonestown, Pa./Northern Lebanon) were both close, finishing with nine and eight points, respectively. Whalen recorded five points, while
Sydney Pierson (Elizabethtown, Pa./Elizabethtown) added three points and 11 rebounds.
Olivia Smelas (Jim Thorpe, Pa./Jim Thorpe) rounded out the scoring for KU with one point.
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Talia Gillard led the Vulcans with 12 points and Rajah Fink had 11.
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Both teams struggled from the floor offensively. KU shot 30.2% (13-for-43) and Cal shot 29.5% (18-of-61).
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Kutztown will play its next game in the 2023 calendar on the road in another PSAC crossover game. KU will take on Pitt-Johnstown on Wednesday, Jan. 4, at 5:30 p.m.
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