EAST STROUDSBURG, Pa. – Trailing by one possession late in the game, Kutztown women's basketball had a couple of chances to take the lead or tie the game before the clock hit zero, but was unable to convert in dropping a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Eastern Division game, 53-50, Wednesday night at East Stroudsburg, inside Koehler Fieldhouse.
 
The Golden Bears (11-14 overall, 9-10 PSAC), who led for most of the fourth quarter, found themselves trailing 51-48 with 1:34 left to play. Zara Zerman (Jonestown, Pa./Northern Lebanon), then, connected on two free-throws to cut the deficit to one with 0:48 remaining.
 
KU forced a Warriors (14-12, 10-10) turnover 0:08 later and had its chance at the go-ahead basket in its next possession. Four consecutive missed shots from Kutztown, all around the paint, with the fourth one being grabbed for a defensive rebound by ESU with 0:07 to go. ESU, then, was fouled and missed both of its free-throws to give the Maroon and Gold the ball back, down one, with 0:05 left. A turnover on the ensuing inbounds led to two free-throws by the Warriors to go up 53-50. With still 0:05 on the clock and the ball on their end of the court with a chance to tie, Kutztown ended up turning the ball over on a bad pass.
 
Playing without two-time All-PSAC performer, Casey Remolde (Philadelphia, Pa./Saint Basil Academy), due to an illness, the Golden Bears had two score in double figures, led by Zerman with 15 points. Abbey Hearn (Lewes, Del./Cape Henlopen) was the other with 11. Seven others hit the box score, including six points out of Naia Pulliam (Wilmington, Del./St. Elizabeth) and five each by freshmen Olivia Smelas (Jim Thorpe, Pa./Jim Thorpe) and Leila Hurley (Jim Thorpe, Pa./Jim Thorpe).
 
Kutztown will now turn its attention to its next game as it hosts Mansfield this Saturday, Feb. 18, at 3 p.m. It will be the 50 years of KU women's basketball celebration.

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