EAST STROUDSBURG, Pa. – The Kutztown women's basketball team turned its season around and went on a fun ride, winning a program-record 12 games in-a-row that dated back to Jan. 13., and improved their record from 6-10 to 18-10. But KU's run came to an end Wednesday night as it fell on the road at East Stroudsburg, 77-64, in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Eastern Division game.
The Golden Bears (18-11 overall, 13-7 PSAC) still remain tied atop the division with Lock Haven (18-8, 13-7), which lost to Bloomsburg Wednesday night, 65-51. The Maroon and Gold hold the tiebreaker over the Bald Eagles, having defeated them in both games during the regular season and would claim the number one seed in next week's PSAC Tournament if the teams remain tied following Saturday's regular season finale.
Leila Hurley (Jim Thorpe, Pa./Jim Thorpe) finished with a game-high 22 points, connecting on 5-of-9 three-pointers to tie a career-best, and also added four rebounds.
Naia Pulliam (Wilmington, Del./St. Elizabeth) tallied 15 points and four rebounds and
Bella Quinn (Ashland, Ky./Russell) recorded 12 points, three rebounds and two steals.
Kutztown knew this was going to be a tough game. Not only because it came in with the win streak and first place standing in the division, but playing on the road in Koehler Fieldhouse is always difficult, along with the fact the first game inside Keystone Arena went to overtime and only because Pulliam came up clutch with a fade-a-way corner 3-pointer as the buzzer sounded at the end of regulation.
KU played from behind from the get-go as it trailed 20-14 after the opening quarter and 35-28 at halftime. But a 15-6 third quarter put the Golden Bears in front 43-41 heading into the final frame. The Warriors (13-13, 10-10), then, hit fire in the fourth quarter on their home floor as they outscored their entire first three quarters combined and totaled 36 fourth quarter points to come away with the victory.
Abbey Hearn (Lewes, Del./Cape Henlopen) contributed eight points and three rebounds.
Shannon Remolde (Philadelphia, Pa./Saint Basil Academy) did a little bit of it all as she ended the night with six points, five steals, two assists and a career-high 10 rebounds.
Kutztown hosts West Chester on senior day in the final home regular season game this Saturday, March 1, at 1 p.m.
