KUTZTOWN, Pa. – Four from Kutztown women's basketball reached double figures in scoring, led by a game-high 16 points from
Naia Pulliam (Wilmington, Del./St. Elizabeth), but turnovers and second chance points on the other end allowed Jefferson to pull out the non-conference victory, 68-62, Saturday afternoon inside Keystone Arena.
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The Golden Bears (1-3 overall) lost for the first time at home this season, after winning this past Wednesday night against Georgian Court, 74-66. They finished with 23 turnovers compared to 14 by the Rams (4-0). Jefferson also had 14 second chance points on 14 offensive rebounds, while KU ended with eight second chance points on nine offensive rebounds.
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Abbey Hearn (Lewes, Del./Cape Henlopen) finished with 13 points, nine rebounds and five assists.
Leila Hurley (Jim Thorpe, Pa./Jim Thorpe) recorded a career-high 12 points, and
Casey Remolde (Philadelphia, Pa./Saint Basil Academy) tallied 10 points, eight rebounds, three assists, two blocks and two steals to round out the quartet scoring double digits.
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In a back-and-forth opening quarter, there were six ties and two lead changes as the Maroon and Gold scored first on a layup by Remolde, but Jefferson finished the quarter on top 18-17. After the Rams connected on their opening possession, Pulliam tied the score at 20-20 with a three-pointer, but Jefferson took back the lead on a layup by Morgan Robinson and went into halftime leading 38-33.
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Kutztown pulled to within two points twice, but the Rams never relinquished their advantage and headed into the final frame up 47-44. They began the fourth quarter with four consecutive points and then found themselves leading by as many as nine (59-50) with 3:28 left. KU made a couple of three-pointers, but could never get to within one possession with Jefferson converting enough from the charity stripe to pull out the win.
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Olivia Smelas (Jim Thorpe, Pa./Jim Thorpe) had four points and five rebounds.
Shannon Remolde (Philadelphia, Pa./Saint Basil Academy) finished with three points, three rebounds, three steals, two assists and two steals.
Sydney Pierson (Elizabethtown, Pa./Elizabethtown) and
Taylor Gurysh (Langhorne, Pa./Neshaminy) both netted two points to round out the scoring for KU.
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Kutztown will next take to the court for an exhibition game at the University of Buffalo next Sunday, Nov. 26, at 1 p.m. KU is back in regular competition the first weekend of December for a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference crossover matchups between Edinboro on Friday, Dec. 1, and then Mercyhurst that Saturday. Friday's game is scheduled for 3 p.m., and Saturday 1 p.m., from Keystone Arena.
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