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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
