KUTZTOWN, Pa. – Kutztown women's basketball erased a double digit deficit in the fourth quarter to pull to within just five points with under a minute to go, but Slippery Rock made the necessary stop it needed to hold onto a 64-57 victory Friday afternoon in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference crossover game at Keystone Arena.
It was the conference home opener for the Golden Bears, who fell to 3-6 overall and 0-2 in the PSAC.
Naia Pulliam (Wilmington, Del./St. Elizabeth) finished with a game-high 18 points and added four rebounds and two assists.
Olivia Smelas (Jim Thorpe, Pa./Jim Thorpe) also tallied double figures in scoring with 13 points and recorded seven rebounds and two assists.
Leila Hurley (Jim Thorpe, Pa./Jim Thorpe) followed a Rock opening jumper just 0:15 into the game with a three-pointer for KU's first basket of the game and first lead at 3-2. After SRU answered on its following possession to take back the lead,
Bella Quinn (Ashland, Ky./Russell) drilled another shot from long distance for the Maroon and Gold to go back on top 6-4, 1:30 into the contest, but that was the last time they would be out in front the rest of the first quarter. Rock scored eight straight points and then held a slim two-point lead (16-14) after the opening quarter.
Alexa Windish (Philadelphia, Pa./Archbishop Wood) connected from deep 0:23 into the second stanza and the Golden Bears found themselves back on top 17-16. But just as it did in the first quarter, Slippery Rock jumped back in front and kept an advantage into a 30-25 halftime lead. Rock shot 50% (13-for-26) in the opening half to Kutztown's 32% (8-of-25).
Kutztown fell behind by double digits late in the third quarter and found itself trailing by 10 (58-48) with just 1:25 to play, but pulled to within five (58-53) with 1:02 remaining. Rock made some stops and converted from the free-throw line to prevail.
Hurley added eight points and Quinn totaled seven points, seven assists and six rebounds.
Abbey Hearn (Lewes, Del./Cape Henlopen) added six points and four rebounds.
Kutztown has a quick turnaround and will be challenged on its home court as it welcomes No. 11 Seton Hill for another PSAC crossover game tomorrow, Saturday, Dec. 7, at 1 p.m., from Keystone Arena. It is the third ranked game of the season for KU, looking for its first ranked victory.
