SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. – The Kutztown women's basketball team entered Wednesday winners of two straight games, including being unbeaten once the calendar turned over to 2025. But KU was on the wrong end Wednesday night as it fell to Shippensburg 80-66 in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference game at Heiges Field House.
The Golden Bears (6-9 overall, 2-5 PSAC) had defeated California (Pa.) 54-49 in a conference crossover game just before Christmas on Dec. 21, then began the New Year with an important road victory over Lock Haven, 68-66, on Jan. 3.
But just as they eyed a season-long three wins in-a-row, the Maroon and Gold fell behind early and were never able to recover as the Raiders (6-8, 3-5) held firm on their home court, snapping a two-game skid.
Naia Pulliam (Wilmington, Del./St. Elizabeth) once again led the offense with a game-high 23 points on 8-of-13 shooting from the floor, her second straight game netting 23. The senior added four rebounds, two assists, two blocks and one steal.
Shannon Remolde (Philadelphia, Pa./Saint Basil Academy) finished with 13 points, going 5-for-8, her second straight game in double figures, tying a career-high in scoring as she also totaled 13 points at Heiges Field House on Feb. 10, 2024. Remolde added four rebounds, two assists and a steal.
Leila Hurley (Jim Thorpe, Pa./Jim Thorpe) also finished in double figures in scoring, recording 12 points with two rebounds, two assists and two steals.
Kutztown fell behind 20-12 after the opening quarter and then was outscored 13-8 in the second quarter to get behind by double digits (33-20) at halftime. KU won the third quarter 20-14 to pull within single digits at 47-40 heading into the final frame, but Ship came right out in the fourth quarter and connected from long range to go right back on top by double figures. The two teams combined to score 59 points in that period.
Olivia Smelas (Jim Thorpe, Pa./Jim Thorpe) and
Abbey Hearn (Lewes, Del./Cape Henlopen) both ended the night with six points and eight rebounds, with Hearn adding a team-best three steals.
Anna Stein (Collegeville, Pa./Perkiomen Valley) contributed four points, two assists, one rebound and one steal.
Kitty Randa (Horsham, Pa./Hatboro-Horsham) rounded out the scoring with two points.
Kutztown remains on the road for the third game in-a-row as it takes on West Chester on Saturday, Jan. 11, at 2 p.m., at Hollinger Field House.
