KUTZTOWN, Pa. – Junior Ariana Smuda (Exton, Pa./Downingtown East) recorded a double-double in her first game in Maroon and Gold and was joined by seniors Olivia Smelas (Jim Thorpe, Pa./Jim Thorpe) and Danae Ellzy (Coatesville, Pa./Coatesville) scoring in double figures as Kutztown women's basketball opened its 2025-26 regular season campaign Friday afternoon with a 64-60 loss to Glenville State in a MEC/PSAC Challenge contest at West Chester University's Hollinger Field House.
 
Smuda tied the team lead with 13 points and had a high of 10 rebounds. Smelas also scored 13 points and added seven rebounds and a team-best three blocks. Ellzy netted 11 points and dished out four assists in her first game with KU.
 
The Golden Bears (0-1 overall) held one point leads after the first quarter (11-10) and at halftime (27-26), but the Pioneers (1-0) got out in front early in the third quarter and led by as many as nine (36-27) midway through the frame.
 
The Pioneers are always a formidable foe. They finished last season 19-12 overall and played in the Mountain East Conference Tournament championship game. In 2022-23, Glenville State went 33-3 and made it to the NCAA Elite Eight.
 
It was an offensive struggle coming out of the halftime locker room as KU missed its first seven shots and did not record its first points until an Smuda layup 5:31 into the quarter. But then the Maroon and Gold rallied and went on a 5-0 run and scored 15 of the next 20 points to go back out in front 42-41 with 0:34 left in the third. Glenville State connected on a layup with 0:06 remaining to finish the quarter ahead 43-42.
 
Smuda scored on back-to-back possessions for Kutztown in the middle of the fourth quarter to go on top 54-53 with 4:45 to play, but the Pioneers answered with six straight points and finished off the Golden Bears.
 
In her first game with KU, sophomore Madison Siggins (Allentown, Pa./Parkland) finished with eight points and three rebounds, getting the start alongside Smelas in the post. Leila Hurley (Jim Thorpe, Pa./Jim Thorpe) recorded six points and four rebounds and both Maggie Coleman (Clarks Summit, Pa./Abington Heights) and Josephine Vourliotis (Manchester, England/Stretford Grammar School) contributed three points. Jadyn Brenneman (New Fairfield, Conn./Western Reserve Academy) had two points and Bella Quinn (Ashland, Ky./Russell) rounded out the scoring with one point and had a team-high five assists.
 
Kutztown will stay at West Chester for one more game, tomorrow, Saturday, Nov. 15, when it takes on Salem at 1 p.m. The home opener is set for next Wednesday, Nov. 19, at 5:30 p.m., against Penn State Schuylkill.

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