EDINBORO, Pa. – There was no denying this 2024-25 edition of Kutztown women's basketball of etching its name into the program record books. KU traveled out west for the weekend and won back-to-back games against the top two teams in the Western Division, including an historic 78-64 victory over top seed and host Edinboro Sunday afternoon to win the program's first Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference championship.
The Golden Bears (22-11 overall) used a strong fourth quarter to extend a slim three-point lead into double figures, outscoring the Fighting Scots 27-16 in the final frame to claim the crown. They also amassed some revenge on the weekend. The Maroon and Gold got the better of Edinboro this time around when it mattered more after losing on the same floor to the same team, 73-48, back on Nov. 22, during the regular season. KU also got some revenge on defending champion, Gannon, with a win in the semifinal round Saturday after the Golden Knights knocked them out the last time they were in the PSAC semifinals during the 2021-22 season.
Kutztown was 0-1 in its only other appearance in the PSAC title game, falling to Indiana (Pa.) 72-57 back on March 10, 2019.
PSAC Tournament MVP,
Abbey Hearn (Lewes, Del./Cape Henlopen) finished a monstrous two-day stretch in the final four. 24 hours after dropping a career-high 31 points in the win over GU, the graduate student was just as effective, recording a game-high 30 points, while adding five rebounds and two blocks. PSAC East Athlete of the Year,
Naia Pulliam (Wilmington, Del./St. Elizabeth), also proved pivotal for the Golden Bears as she finished with 21 points, seven rebounds, three blocks, two assists and one steal.
In a back-and-forth opening quarter, the Fighting Scots (24-6) reached their largest lead of the contest at five (14-9) with 4:01 left in the frame, but KU scored seven of the next nine points to tie the score 16-16 after one. 3-pointers by Pulliam and
Leila Hurley (Jim Thorpe, Pa./Jim Thorpe) within the first 4:16 of the second quarter gave Kutztown a 24-20 advantage, but Edinboro finished the quarter on a 16-9 run to go to halftime ahead 36-33.
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Shannon Remolde (Philadelphia, Pa./Saint Basil Academy) layup cut the deficit to two at 37-35 just 1:20 into the third quarter, and then back-to-back 3-pointers from Pulliam and Hearn gave KU the lead right back at 41-37 with 6:28 left in the third. The Golden Bears would not trail the rest of the way. A long 3-pointer by
Bella Arcuri (Fallsington, Pa./Pennsbury) as time expired on the third quarter gave them a 51-48 edge and they added on to that in the fourth quarter, holding off an early push from the Fighting Scots and putting it away late.
Bella Quinn (Ashland, Ky./Russell) finished with eight points, five assists and two rebounds. Remolde tallied six points and four rebounds and was once again the defensive force she has been known to be.
Olivia Smelas (Jim Thorpe, Pa./Jim Thorpe) recorded six points, nine boards, two steals and two assists. Arcuri contributed four points and Hurley added three to round out the scoring for the champs.
Kutztown will now await to see its opponent and destination when it comes to the NCAA Tournament. The Selection Show is scheduled for 10:30 p.m., tonight on ncaa.com.