SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. – The second competition weekend of the 2024-25 regular season for Kutztown women's basketball was a good one as KU picked up its first victory, taking down Lincoln 71-61 Friday afternoon at Heiges Field House on the campus of Shippensburg University.
The Golden Bears (1-2 overall) watched as the Lions (0-1) scored the game's opening basket, but they ended the quarter on a 19-9 run and never trailed the rest of the way.
A very strong first half played against an intense Lincoln defense seemed to be no match for Kutztown's offense. The KU offense moved the ball around and found the open shooters.
Taylor Gurysh (Langhorne, Pa./Neshaminy) had eight points in the first half coming off the bench as well as the shots raining from behind the arch from
Naia Pulliam (Wilmington, Del./St. Elizabeth) with 10 points and
Abbey Hearn (Lewes, Del./Cape Henlopen) with seven points to end the half. This Kutztown squad had a lot to prove, and they did just that with lots of made plays and hard work. Kutztown led at half 39-21 over the Lions.
Looking onto the second half, Gurysh came out to play and put up six more and ended the game with 13 points. Kutztown had to play more of a defensive game in the second half due to a more aggressive Lincoln squad.
Bella Quinn (Ashland, Ky./Russell) had three steals to try to slow down the Lion progress as well as
Olivia Smelas (Jim Thorpe, Pa./Jim Thorpe) with two blocks on the game. Every player from the Kutztown bench saw playing time this game which is a great way to build team morale and confidence for such a young squad. Kutztown shot 70% (7-for-10) from the charity stripe and went 10-for-31 shooting 32% from the three-point line. Hearn ended today's game with 16 points and Pulliam finished with 15 points and led the team in rebounds with eight.
Quinn and
Shannon Remolde (Philadelphia, Pa./Saint Basil Academy) each tallied six points with the former adding four rebounds, four assists and three steals.
Leila Hurley (Jim Thorpe, Pa./Jim Thorpe) and
Jess Aponik (Philadelphia, Pa./Germantown Academy) both recorded five points and
Bella Arcuri (Fallsington, Pa./Pennsbury) and Smelas combined for five points to round out the scoring.
Kutztown's next matchup in the Tip Off Challenge will be against nationally-ranked and No. 10 Fayetteville State on Saturday, November 9, at 4 p.m., back at Shippensburg. The Golden Bears home opener will be on Wednesday, November 13, against Goldey-Beacom at Keystone Area with tip off starting at 5:30 p.m.
