KUTZTOWN, Pa. – Kutztown women's basketball trailed by 17 points late in the third quarter and was behind by 15 with 9:06 to play, but outscored Shippensburg 31-10 the rest of the way to complete the comeback and win 76-70 Wednesday night in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Eastern Division game inside Keystone Arena.
The win set a new program record for the Golden Bears (17-10 overall, 12-6 PSAC) with their 11th victory in-a-row. The last time they lost was back on Jan. 11, at West Chester. The Maroon and Gold completed revenge on the Raiders (8-17, 5-14), who got the better KU in the previous matchup, 80-66, on Jan. 8.
Kutztown faced a 17-point deficit three different times in the third quarter and trailed 60-45 with 9:06 left, but stormed back in front of its home crowd to rewrite history.
Naia Pulliam (Wilmington, Del./St. Elizabeth) finished with a game-high 23 points, including 14 in the fourth quarter. She shot 50% (8-for-16) overall and added five rebounds, four assists and two steals.
Leila Hurley (Jim Thorpe, Pa./Jim Thorpe) had just as impressive of a night, recording 21 points, 12 of which came in the final frame. The junior shot 5-for-10 from long distance, including some from a few steps behind the line. She also had five boards and two blocks.
It was not the start that Kutztown had been accustomed to over the win streak that has lasted 37 days since a Jan. 13, victory over Mansfield. KU shot just 36.7% (11-for-30) from the floor in the first half and was outscored 22-16 in the opening quarter and 16-13 in the second quarter, going into the locker room at halftime behind 38-29, the biggest halftime deficit since trailing 39-29 at Clarion on Jan. 22. The Raiders led by as many as 10 (37-27) with 1:42 left in the second quarter.
The Maroon and Gold led 10-8 with 4:58 to go in the first quarter, but Ship went on 30-19 run the next 14:58 to intermission. The third quarter was more of the same as the Raiders scored 18 points to Kutztown's 13.
Abbey Hearn (Lewes, Del./Cape Henlopen) was the third Golden Bear in double figures, finishing with 11 points, five rebounds and two blocks.
Olivia Smelas (Jim Thorpe, Pa./Jim Thorpe) stuffed the stat sheet, tallying eight points, three rebounds, three blocks, two steals and a career-high seven assists.
Shannon Remolde (Philadelphia, Pa./Saint Basil Academy) totaled six points and six rebounds.
Kutztown will remain at home for its next game, this Saturday, Feb. 22, when it hosts Shepherd at 1 p.m., from Keystone Arena.
