KUTZTOWN, Pa. – In a matchup of two of the top teams in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Eastern Division, Kutztown got the final laugh as it held on to defeat Lock Haven 70-69 Wednesday night inside Keystone Arena.
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The Golden Bears (14-10 overall, 9-6 PSAC) swept the season matchups with the Bald Eagles (14-7, 9-6), also winning at Lock Haven, 68-66, on Jan. 3. The two teams are now tied atop the division standings as KU won its eighth in-a-row.
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Naia Pulliam (Wilmington, Del./St. Elizabeth), who entered Wednesday fourth in the PSAC in scoring at 17.8 points per game, finished with a game-high 24 points on 10-for-16 shooting from the floor and added three rebounds.
Abbey Hearn (Lewes, Del./Cape Henlopen) ended one rebound shy of a double-double, tallying 13 points and nine rebounds, along with three steals and two blocks.
Bella Quinn (Ashland, Ky./Russell) recorded 11 points and four assists and
Leila Hurley (Jim Thorpe, Pa./Jim Thorpe) was the fourth member in double figures with 10 points.
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Kutztown overcame a five-point deficit (58-53) with 3:44 left in regulation, going on a 10-0 run to go out in front 63-58 with 1:09 left. The Bald Eagles connected on a long three-pointer with 0:10 left to pull to within 69-68. After KU then went 1-for-2 at the free-throw line on the ensuing possession, Kiera Baughman was fouled driving to the basket with just 0:01 to go, but missed the second free-throw into the arms of
Kitty Randa (Horsham, Pa./Hatboro-Horsham) to end the game.
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Kutztown started off hot, scoring 11 of the game's first 15 points in the opening 3:06 as both teams seemed to be feeling it from the floor. The Bald Eagles ended the quarter on a 15-6 run to take a 19-17 lead into the second.
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Lock Haven extended its advantage to as many as six (30-24), but KU scored the next 11 points to hold a 35-30 lead with 0:50 remaining and went into halftime on top 35-33.
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Kutztown has the weekend off with its bye. KU will next be out on the court next Wednesday, Feb. 12, at 5:30 p.m., at Millersville.
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