MANSFIELD, Pa. – Junior
Leila Hurley (Jim Thorpe, Pa./Jim Thorpe) finished with a career-best 24 points to lead Kutztown to a 79-60 win in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Eastern Division action on the road Saturday afternoon at Marion Decker Gymnasium.
The victory was the seventh straight for the Golden Bears (13-10 overall, 8-6 PSAC), who are now in second place in the Eastern Division standings, one game back from Lock Haven (14-6, 9-5).
Hurley was 8-of-13 from the floor, 4-of-8 from three and 4-for-4 at the free-throw line. She also grabbed three rebounds.
Naia Pulliam (Wilmington, Del./St. Elizabeth) recorded 19 points, three rebounds and two blocks.
Olivia Smelas (Jim Thorpe, Pa./Jim Thorpe) tallied 12 points, seven rebounds and five assists.
Abbey Hearn (Lewes, Del./Cape Henlopen) was the fourth Golden Bear in double figures, finishing the game with 11 points, seven rebounds and three assists.
The Maroon and Gold led from start to finish in this one as Smelas scored the game's opening points on a layup 1:17 into the contest and outside of a 2-2 tie for 0:26, KU led for the remaining 39:34. Pulliam hit from long distance to put her team back on top 5-2 and they would lead for the remainder.
The Mounties (8-12, 4-10) pulled to within 20-19, 0:43 into the second quarter, but KU then scored five in-a-row and took a double figure lead (36-26) following a Hurley 3-pointer with 3:06 left in the second quarter. Kutztown was on top 44-32 at halftime and extended their advantage to as much as 22 points (56-34) in the middle of the third.
Alexa Windish (Philadelphia, Pa./Archbishop Wood) and
Kitty Randa (Horsham, Pa./Hatboro-Horsham) each finished with four points.
Taylor Gurysh (Langhorne, Pa./Neshaminy) contributed three points and
Bella Quinn (Ashland, Ky./Russell) rounded out the scoring with two points.
Kutztown will be back home as it takes on Lock Haven, who sits in first place in the East Division, next Wednesday, Feb. 5, at 5:30 p.m.
