KUTZTOWN, Pa. – Kutztown women's basketball walked to its bench trailing by one after the first quarter, but turned the game in its favor by outscoring Bloomsburg by nine points in the second quarter and wound up with its second straight double-digit victory 67-56 Wednesday evening in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Eastern Division inside Keystone Arena.
The Golden Bears (8-10 overall, 4-6 PSAC) are currently 2-0 during this busy three-game stretch this week, all home games. They defeated Mansfield 75-62 this past Monday.
It took a little while for the teams to get going as the Huskies (10-6, 4-5) scored the game's opening basket 2:59 into the contest and then they recorded the quarter's final basket with 0:29 to go to take a 10-9 lead after one. Similar to the first, it took a bit for any scoring in the second as the first field goal came from
Bella Quinn (Ashland, Ky./Russell) 2:32 in to spark an 8-0 run by the Maroon and Gold, which outscored Bloomsburg 19-10 that frame to go into the locker room on top 28-20. A Huskies' three-pointer with 0:31 remaining prevented a double figure KU lead at the intermission and gave them a little bit of momentum going into the locker room.
Kutztown did not let BU get back into the game, however, and extended its advantage to as many as 15 points (42-27) midway through the third quarter. Bloomsburg pulled to within just four (56-52) with 3:37 to play, but KU ended that time frame on an 11-4 run to close out the win.
Naia Pulliam (Wilmington, Del./St. Elizabeth) had her second double-double this season with 27 points and 11 rebounds to lead a quartet of Golden Bears in double figures in scoring.
Abbey Hearn (Lewes, Del./Cape Henlopen) tallied 14 points and six rebounds.
Leila Hurley (Jim Thorpe, Pa./Jim Thorpe) recorded 11 points and
Olivia Smelas (Jim Thorpe, Pa./Jim Thorpe) just missed a double-double with 10 points and nine rebounds, to go along with a season-best four steals and two assists. Quinn contributed four points, three rebounds and two assists and
Anaya Price (Newark, Del./Caravel Academy) rounded out the scoring with one point.
Kutztown completes a three-game in six-day span when it hosts Millersville this Saturday, Jan. 18, at 1 p.m., from Keystone Arena. The Marauders currently sit atop of the PSAC East standings.
