SHEPHERDSTOWN, W.Va. – The road has once again been unkind to the Kutztown women's basketball team as for the second game this week away from home, KU fell just short, dropping a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Eastern Division game at Shepherd Saturday afternoon, 66-63.
 
Just like in Wednesday night's game at Millersville, the Golden Bears (10-8 overall, 6-5 PSAC) trailed in the fourth quarter, but rallied in a comeback attempt, only for the clock to hit zero and the rally to fall just short.
 
Leila Hurley (Jim Thorpe, Pa./Jim Thorpe) had a bounce back game, finishing with a team-best 20 points, three days after scoring a point against the Marauders. She shot 50% from the floor (7-for-14) and long distance (5-for-10), adding two rebounds, two blocks and a steal. Both Ariana Smuda (Exton, Pa./Downingtown East) and Danae Ellzy (Coatesville, Pa./Coatesville) recorded 12 points, with Smuda finishing one rebound shy of a double-double with nine rebounds. Bella Quinn (Ashland, Ky./Russell) tallied eight points and Taylor Gurysh (Langhorne, Pa./Neshaminy) had five points and three rebounds. Each of Olivia Smelas (Jim Thorpe, Pa./Jim Thorpe) and Alexa Windish (Philadelphia, Pa./Archbishop Wood) contributed three points, with Smelas grabbing eight boards.
 
Hurley began the game with back-to-back 3-pointers on two straight possessions as Kutztown took an early 6-2 lead. But the Rams (4-12, 2-9) ended the quarter on a 9-3 run to go ahead 11-9 after the opening quarter. Shepherd's advantage climbed to as much as 11 points, twice, in the second quarter and remained ahead by six (32-26) at halftime.
 
The Maroon and Gold rallied early in the third quarter and took the lead on a Hurley 3-pointer to go up 36-34 with 5:31 left in the quarter. A Smuda layup and Quinn free-throw put them on top 39-34 with 3:01 left, but the Rams finished the frame on 13-4 spurt to lead 47-43 after three. Gurysh, Ellzy and Hurley each connected on 3-pointers within the first 4:46 of the fourth quarter to fight back into the lead at 53-50 and then the two teams were back-and-forth the rest of the way until the Rams found themselves back ahead and hit enough free-throws and made enough defensive stops to hold on for the victory.
 
Kutztown has a busy week next week as it will play two games in a span of three days, both of which are at home. KU hosts East Stroudsburg next Tuesday, Jan. 27, at 5:30 p.m., and then welcomes Mansfield to town that Thursday at 5:30 p.m.

  Read Full Article