KUTZTOWN, Pa. – Kutztown women's basketball had a double-digit lead to start the fourth quarter evaporate as Millersville more than doubled up the score in the frame and defeated KU 61-59 Wednesday night in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Eastern Divisional game inside Keystone Arena.
The Golden Bears (13-13 overall, 11-9 PSAC) went into the final period on top 48-38, but were outscored 23-11 as the Marauders (11-14, 9-10) broke a 58-58 tie with a jumper by Jabria Ingram to go up 60-58. The two teams both went 1-for-2 at the free-throw line in the final 0:39 to conclude the game.
Olivia Smelas (Jim Thorpe, Pa./Jim Thorpe) tied a game-high with 18 points and grabbed 11 rebounds for her second double-double of the season.
Shannon Remolde (Philadelphia, Pa./Saint Basil Academy) and
Sydney Pierson (Elizabethtown, Pa./Elizabethtown) both finished in double figures in scoring with 10 points each. Remolde also had four rebounds, two assists and two steals and Pierson had three blocks.
Zara Zerman (Jonestown, Pa./Northern Lebanon) just missed joining the trio, recording nine points to go along with four rebounds and four assists.
Leila Hurley (Jim Thorpe, Pa./Jim Thorpe) tallied seven points and four rebounds.
Kutztown led 2-0 and 4-2 early on in the opening quarter thanks to two layups by Smelas, but the Marauders finished the quarter on a 12-8 run to lead 14-12. Millersville went ahead by as many as six (21-15) 3:50 into the second quarter, but KU went on a 21-3 run, and went into the locker room ahead 36-24. The Maroon and Gold shot 71.4% (10-for-14) in the frame.
The Golden Bears continued their surge in the third quarter still held a double-digit advantage 48-38 after three.
Kutztown has one week off and concludes its home regular season portion of its schedule next Wednesday, Feb. 28, at 5:30 p.m., against East Stroudsburg.
