KUTZTOWN, Pa. -- The Kutztown University women's basketball team (6-7, 4-3 PSAC) used a strong second half offensive performance to hold off rivals West Chester (7-6, 4-3 PSAC) 73-57 at Keystone Arena Saturday afternoon.
Zara Zerman (Jonestown, Pa./Northern Lebanon) and Naia Pulliam (Wilmington, Del./St. Elizabeth) lead KU on the offensive side of the floor. Zerman registered 19 points, including a 50% shooting percentage from beyond the arc. Pulliam found her groove in the second half and ended with 16 points, including making 3-of-4 from three. Casey Remolde (Philadelphia, Pa./Saint Basil Academy) finished with 12 points and grabbed a team-high six rebounds.
The Golden Bears started the game with two three-pointers from Casey Remolde (Philadelphia, Pa./Saint Basil Academy) and Abbey Hearn (Lewes, Del./Cape Henlopen) to jump to a quick 6-2 lead. From there, West Chester got back into the game and took a 10-9 lead into the first media timeout. Two more baskets from Zara Zerman (Jonestown, Pa./Northern Lebanon), including a three-pointer, and a layup from Remolde helped the Golden Bears go into the first break up 15-9.
KU struggled from the floor to start the second quarter, as West Chester went on a 10-0 run and entered the media timeout up 19-15. Zerman registered the Golden Bear's first basket of the quarter with 3:52 left. The teams traded three-pointers to end the half, concluded by a buzzer-beater from Michelle Kozicki of West Chester to give the Golden Rams a slim 27-26 advantage entering the half.
The second half began at a frantic pace, with both teams trading points to open play. Zerman continued her hot game, making her second three to cut the Golden Ram's lead to 39-38. Two free throws from Remolde gave KU its first lead of the game since the start of the second quarter, and the Golden Bears didn't let it go.
Naia Pulliam (Wilmington, Del./St. Elizabeth) started to assert herself in the game, making an and-one, followed by a three-pointer to keep KU's momentum rolling and extend KU's 11-0 run. A big rejection from Hearn, followed by a three capped off a massive 25-14 advantage in the third quarter to make it 51-41 KU after three.
The Golden Bears continued to keep it rolling in the fourth, forcing West Chester to call a timeout a minute in after two quick baskets. From there, KU was able to take hold of the game and capture its first PSAC East victory of the year 73-57.
KU bounces back in a big way after back-to-back tough losses. The Golden Bears will be back on the court on Wednesday, Jan. 11 at Millersville. That game will tip off at 5:30 p.m.
