WEST CHESTER, Pa. – Kutztown women's basketball was looking to right the ship as soon as it could, and thankfully it didn't have to wait long. After dropping its first Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Eastern Division game this past Saturday, KU hit the road to record its first divisional victory just three nights later, downing West Chester 49-46 Tuesday evening at Hollinger Field House.
 
The Golden Bears (8-6 overall, 4-3 PSAC) came up clutch from the free-throw line and on defense to take a late fourth quarter lead over the Golden Rams (8-6, 4-4) and hold on to it in the waning minutes.
 
After Jadyn Brenneman (New Fairfield, Conn./Western Reserve Academy) broke a 44-44 tie with two free-throws with 1:02 to play, a layup from Marianna Papazoglou tied the score once again at 46-46 with 0:48 left. Then, Olivia Smelas (Jim Thorpe, Pa./Jim Thorpe) and Bella Quinn (Ashland, Ky./Russell) stepped up and connected on 3-of-4 free-throws in a span of 0:16 to ice the game. The KU defense also forced two missed shots and three turnovers in the final 0:32 to seal the win.
 
No Golden Bear finished in double figures in scoring, but eight different players recorded at least two points, led by nine from both Smelas and Leila Hurley (Jim Thorpe, Pa./Jim Thorpe), with Smelas adding 11 rebounds, three assists, two blocks and two steals. Quinn finished with eight points, six rebounds and three assists. Brenneman tied a season-high with seven points. Ariana Smuda (Exton, Pa./Downingtown East) recorded six points, seven rebounds and a season-best four blocks. Madison Siggins (Allentown, Pa./Parkland) had five points and five rebounds. Taylor Gurysh (Langhorne, Pa./Neshaminy) added three points and Kitty Randa (Horsham, Pa./Hatboro-Horsham) rounded out the scoring with two points.
 
It was a somewhat slower start for the Maroon and Gold as Smelas netted the first points of the game on a jumper 1:46 in, but the next points didn't come until a Quinn jumper 3:46 later, but KU led 14-12 after the first quarter thanks to a 3-pointer by Hurley with 0:56 remaining. Kutztown went on top by as many as 10 (26-16) midway through the second quarter, but WCU went on a 10-0 run the final 6:07 to tie the score at 26-26 at halftime.
 
There were five lead changes in a back-and-forth third quarter before the all-important fourth quarter.
 
Kutztown will stay on the road and is back in action two nights later as it travels to take on Shippensburg Thursday night at 6 p.m.

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