KUTZTOWN, Pa. – Kutztown women's basketball erased a double-digit deficit in the first quarter and had the chance to tie or take the lead in the final possession of the game, but could not convert as Jefferson won the non-conference game Saturday afternoon inside Keystone Arena 50-48.
 
The Golden Bears are 2-2 overall through their first four games and 1-1 at home.
 
The Rams (4-0), who finished last season 24-8 and runners-up in the CACC, have won the last four meetings in this matchup that has taken place each of the last six seasons, with the Maroon and Gold winning four in-a-row from 2017-2021.
 
Danae Ellzy (Coatesville, Pa./Coatesville) scored a team-high 12 points and added four steals, two rebounds and two assists. Bella Quinn (Ashland, Ky./Russell) netted a season-best 10 points and had three assists and two rebounds. Madison Siggins (Allentown, Pa./Parkland) was just shy of double figures, finishing with nine points, four rebounds, three steals and two assists. Olivia Smelas (Jim Thorpe, Pa./Jim Thorpe) tallied six points, 10 rebounds and three steals.
 
Kutztown had a slow start as it fell behind 6-0 and then 12-2 midway through the opening quarter. The 10-point deficit was the largest of the game for either team. KU began to rally in the second quarter and tied the game at 19-19 on a layup by Smelas and then took its first lead at 21-19 after two Quinn free-throws. The teams went into the locker room tied 25-25 at halftime after two free-throws from Jadyn Brenneman (New Fairfield, Conn./Western Reserve Academy).
 
It was back-and-forth in the third quarter with three lead changes and one tie until the Rams led 38-34 after three. Jefferson scored the first five points of the fourth quarter to go ahead by nine (43-34). Trailing 47-42 with just 2:43 to play, the Golden Bears went on a 6-0 run, highlighted by a 3-pointer by Ellzy and three free-throws from Quinn, as they went on top 48-47 with 0:41 remaining.
 
Then, in a span of 0:06, the Rams went 3-for-4 from the charity stripe to go back ahead 50-48, and held KU scoreless the rest of the way.
 
Ariana Smuda (Exton, Pa./Downingtown East) contributed four points and four rebounds. Kitty Randa (Horsham, Pa./Hatboro-Horsham) added three points and two steals. Both Brenneman and Leila Hurley (Jim Thorpe, Pa./Jim Thorpe) had two points.
 
Kutztown will have the next week off for the Thanksgiving holiday and will next be out on the court in another non-conference home game against Wilmington (Del.) next Monday, Dec. 1, at 5:30 p.m.

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