KUTZTOWN, Pa. -- A season-high five Golden Bears registered double-digit points as the Kutztown University women's basketball team (8-7, 6-3 PSAC) held on for a hard-fought 72-65 over Lock Haven (7-7, 5-4 PSAC) Saturday afternoon at Keystone Arena.
Sydney Pierson (Elizabethtown, Pa./Elizabethtown) registered her first career double-double with 11 points and 10 boards. Naia Pulliam (Wilmington, Del./St. Elizabeth) led the scoring off the bench with 16 points in only 23 minutes. Casey Remolde (Philadelphia, Pa./Saint Basil Academy) (14), Zara Zerman (Jonestown, Pa./Northern Lebanon) (13), and Abbey Hearn (Lewes, Del./Cape Henlopen) (13) were the other Golden Bears to finish in double digits. Zerman also notched a season-high six assists in the win. Alana Robinson lead the way for the Bald Eagles, scoring 22 points while shooting over 70% from the floor.Â
Both teams started quickly out of the gate. The Bald Eagles opened offensively with two threes, but the Golden Bears kept pace and took the lead on the back of Casey Remolde (Philadelphia, Pa./Saint Basil Academy). The senior from Philadelphia ended the quarter with 10 points as KU took a 22-16 lead in the first break. Both teams also played a physical game, with nine fouls being called in the first frame.
Lock Haven got back into the game in the second quarter. The Golden Bears struggled to protect the basketball, turning the ball over 12 times to Lock Haven's four in the first half. A little run of momentum in the middle part of the frame, sparked by a Sydney Pierson (Elizabethtown, Pa./Elizabethtown) three-pointer, helped keep KU in the front as the Golden Bears took a slim 36-33 lead into halftime.Â
The Bald Eagles were able to wrestle back the lead to start the second half. KU's full court press and two straight baskets from Zara Zerman (Jonestown, Pa./Northern Lebanon) helped KU weather the storm and take back the lead. An Abbey Hearn (Lewes, Del./Cape Henlopen) three-pointer with 30 seconds left gave the Golden Bears a 49-46 lead to end the third.
The Golden Bears started to find their offensive groove as the game entered the fourth quarter. A quick 7-0 run to start the frame forced Lock Haven to call a timeout. The Bald Eagles continued to make timely shots to keep the score closer, but a big basket from freshman Olivia Smelas (Jim Thorpe, Pa./Jim Thorpe)Â kept KU's lead at seven with five minutes left. A layup from Hearn with 45 seconds left proved to be the dagger as KU held on for the 72-65 win.
The defending PSAC East champions move to 3-0 to open PSAC East play with wins over West Chester, Millersville, and Lock Haven. KU will look to make it 4-0 as it travels to Mansfield on Wednesday, Jan. 18. That game will tip off at 5:30 p.m.
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