CLARION, Pa. – Kutztown women's basketball was clicking on all cylinders and took a double-digit lead in the first quarter that extended into the 30s as KU earned its first Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference victory of the regular season Tuesday afternoon, downing Clarion 78-46.
The win was a much-needed one for the Golden Bears (3-7 overall, 1-3 PSAC), who now can enjoy their Christmas break with some positive momentum. It was the largest margin of victory of the season for Kutztown.
Abbey Hearn (Lewes, Del./Cape Henlopen) led all scorers with 19 points, including going 5-for-8 from three and 6-for-10 overall. She also grabbed six rebounds. Three other Golden Bears scored in double figures, including 13 each from
Naia Pulliam (Wilmington, Del./St. Elizabeth) and
Olivia Smelas (Jim Thorpe, Pa./Jim Thorpe) and 12 from
Zara Zerman (Jonestown, Pa./Northern Lebanon). Smelas stuffed the stat sheet, adding nine rebounds, five assists, five blocks and two steals. Nine total players scored during the game.
Hearn was on fire to begin the game as she connected on three straight 3-pointers in the opening two minutes to stake her team to an early 9-2 lead. After missing her next one, she hit her fourth from long distance in five tries as KU scored 14 of the game's first 16 points in the first 3:58 before Clarion called timeout.
The Maroon and Gold played one of their best quarters of the season as they outscored the Golden Eagles 28-4 in the opening frame and then had their lead climb to 30 (45-15) on a three-pointer by
Taylor Gurysh (Langhorne, Pa./Neshaminy) with 2:05 left in the second stanza. A
Bella Arcuri (Fallsington, Pa./Pennsbury) free-throw with 1:52 to go gave KU its biggest lead of the half at 31 (46-15). The Maroon and Gold went into the locker room on top 48-20.
After a Hearn jumper 2:25 into the third quarter that gave her team a 52-22 lead, KU led by at least 30 the rest of the way.
Casey Remolde (Philadelphia, Pa./Saint Basil Academy) recorded seven points. Gurysh contributed six.
Shannon Remolde (Philadelphia, Pa./Saint Basil Academy) had five points and three steals.
Sydney Pierson (Elizabethtown, Pa./Elizabethtown) notched two points and nine rebounds and Arcuri rounded out the scoring with one point.
KU's offense shot 43.5% (27-for-62) from the floor and the defense held Clarion to just 19.6% (11-of-56).
Kutztown will have 10 days off in-between games for the holiday and will return to the court for another PSAC crossover game, this time at home, as it will host Pitt-Johnstown on Saturday, Dec. 30, at 1 p.m.
