WEST CHESTER, Pa. – Kutztown women's basketball will be happy to return to Keystone Arena for its next game after a three-game road trip concludes Wednesday night with a 46-39 defeat at West Chester in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Eastern Division action.
It is the third consecutive loss for the Golden Bears (12-12 overall, 10-8 PSAC), all coming on the road.
The 39 points is a season-low in a game for KU in 2023-24, as it shot 30.2% (13-of-42) from the floor and 27.3% (6-for-22) from three-point range.
Three players finished in double figures in scoring, led by 13 from sophomore
Leila Hurley (Jim Thorpe, Pa./Jim Thorpe), who made a team-best four 3-pointers.
Shannon Remolde (Philadelphia, Pa./Saint Basil Academy) tallied 10 points, five rebounds, three assists and a season-high six steals.
Olivia Smelas (Jim Thorpe, Pa./Jim Thorpe) recorded 10 points, six rebounds, three assists and two steals.
Kutztown started quick with back-to-back 3-pointers by Remolde to stake to a 6-3 advantage, but the Golden Rams (19-5, 14-4) scored 10 straight points in the final 6:40 to hold a 13-6 lead after the opening quarter. KU had a stronger second quarter as it outscored West Chester 13-11 and even tied the score at 19-all after a layup by Smelas, and the Golden Bears trailed 24-19 at halftime.
The Golden Rams, then, took control of the game as the second half tipped, going on a 14-2 run through the first 8:45 of the third, holding KU to just seven points in that stanza. Kutztown made a late run, closing its deficit to just three (42-39) with 4:05 remaining after a Hurley three, but that was the last time they would score the rest of the way.
Sydney Pierson (Elizabethtown, Pa./Elizabethtown),
Bella Arcuri (Fallsington, Pa./Pennsbury) and
Zara Zerman (Jonestown, Pa./Northern Lebanon) all tallied two points to round out the scoring for the Maroon and Gold. Pierson also added five rebounds and four assists.
After three games away from home, Kutztown returns to Keystone Arena for its next game, this Saturday, Feb. 17, against Bloomsburg at 1 p.m. It will be senior day for KU.
