KUTZTOWN, Pa. – The snow came in droves early Saturday and it may have affected play for both Kutztown and Bloomsburg as the two teams were cold from the floor. KU outlasted BU 44-34 in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Eastern Divisional game inside Keystone Arena.
 
The Golden Bears (10-6 overall, 6-3 PSAC) have now won three games in-a-row and sit in first place in the East, tied with Lock Haven (10-5, 6-3). The 34 points was the least given up by the defense since a 96-20 victory on Nov. 26, 2024.
 
Just as the weather was outside, inside the gym it was also cold as the two teams combined to shoot 5-for-24 and combined for just 10 points with KU leading 6-4 after the opening quarter. The first field goal didn't come until 3:33 in on a Bella Quinn (Ashland, Ky./Russell) jump shot.
 
The two teams heated up a little more in the second quarter with the Maroon and Gold outscoring the Huskies 14-9, with KU shooting 5-for-14 (35.7%) and BU going 3-of-10 (30%). Bloomsburg held a 13-12 lead with 2:19 left until intermission and then the Golden Bears ended the quarter on an 8-0 run, highlighted by two free-throws from Jadyn Brenneman (New Fairfield, Conn./Western Reserve Academy) to give her team the lead back, an old-fashioned three-point play by Ariana Smuda (Exton, Pa./Downingtown East) and an actual 3-pointer from Olivia Smelas (Jim Thorpe, Pa./Jim Thorpe) as Kutztown went to the locker room ahead 20-13.
 
KU continued its surge as the third quarter began, scoring four straight points on a Smelas layup and back-to-back free-throws by Madison Siggins (Allentown, Pa./Parkland) to extend its advantage into double figures at 24-13. The Kutztown lead continued to climb as it outscored Bloomsburg 15-3 in the frame to head to the final quarter on top 35-16. The Golden Bears held the Huskies without a second half field goal until 1:45 in to the fourth quarter.
 
Bloom rallied with an 11-0 run midway through the fourth quarter to climb back to pull to within just eight at 37-29 with 4:51 to play. The Huskies would get to as close as seven at 41-34 with 2:04 remaining, but Smuda converted on a layup and Brenneman went 1-of-2 at the line to seal the victory.
 
Smuda finished with her second double-double of the season, scoring a team-high 13 points and adding a season-best 11 rebounds. Smelas also finished in double figures with 11 points and added six rebounds, three assists, three steals and two blocks. Leila Hurley (Jim Thorpe, Pa./Jim Thorpe) tallied seven points and three rebounds. Brenneman had five points and two rebounds.
 
Kutztown hits the road for its next game as it will take on Millersville next Wednesday, Jan. 21, at 5:30 p.m.

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