CANYON, Texas – Nine out of the 10 Golden Bears that saw the court etched their names in the scorebook, led by 16 points from
Naia Pulliam (Wilmington, Del./St. Elizabeth) as Kutztown women's basketball opened the 2024-25 regular season falling to Adams State of Alamosa, Colo., 69-56 Friday afternoon in the opening game of the D2CCA Tipoff Classic at West Texas A&M University.
The Maroon and Gold (0-1 overall) jumped out to an early start, outscoring the Grizzlies 19-12 in the first quarter and led 30-23 at halftime. But Adams St. had a strong fourth quarter and outscored KU 28-11 in the final frame to take the opener.
All nine Golden Bears recorded at least a point in the first quarter, led by four points from
Jess Aponik (Philadelphia, Pa./Germantown Academy). The freshman tallied the first basket of the season for her team on a fastbreak layup 0:22 into the game off an assist by classmate
Bella Quinn (Ashland, Ky./Russell) to give KU a 2-0 lead.
Abbey Hearn's (Lewes, Del./Cape Henlopen) jumper with 0:36 to go in the period pushed the Maroon and Gold's advantage to 19-12.
Kutztown remained out in front through the second quarter, but had its lead dwindle to just two points, twice. On two separate possessions,
Taylor Gurysh (Langhorne, Pa./Neshaminy) connected from the free-throw line to extend the lead back to seven, which the teams went into the locker room with.
Adams St. tied the game at 31-all 2:14 into the third quarter on two free-throws and then took its first lead of the game on the next possession. Pulliam and
Leila Hurley (Jim Thorpe, Pa./Jim Thorpe) drilled 3-pointers and Quinn, Hearn and
Bella Arcuri (Fallsington, Pa./Pennsbury) went 6-for-6 from the charity stripe to keep the Golden Bears in front 45-41 after three. After an Aponik layup off her offensive rebound 0:22 into the fourth, the Grizzlies went on a 10-0 run the next 2:31 to take a 51-47 lead and never trailed the rest of the way.
Pulliam had six rebounds and two assists to go along with her 16 points. Aponik finished with nine points, two rebounds and two steals. Hurley and Quinn each recorded six points and three rebounds with Quinn adding a team-best three assists. Gurysh and
Shannon Remolde (Philadelphia, Pa./Saint Basil Academy) both tallied five points and combined for seven rebounds. Hearn posted four points and a team-high 12 rebounds. Arcuri contributed three points and
Olivia Smelas (Jim Thorpe, Pa./Jim Thorpe) rounded out the scoring with two points and brought down four rebounds.
Kutztown will play one more game in Canyon, Texas, and will take on Lubbock Christian at noon on Saturday.
