KUTZTOWN, Pa. – In what felt like a playoff game, Kutztown women's basketball came out on top in a tough, hard-nosed game Tuesday evening, defeating St. Thomas Aquinas 57-45 inside Keystone Arena in the final non-conference game of the regular season.
 
The Golden Bears are a season-best two games above .500 at 7-5 overall and are now on a two-game win streak heading into PSAC East play this weekend.
 
Danae Ellzy (Coatesville, Pa./Coatesville) had her most points in a KU uniform, finishing with a game-high 19 points in 20 minutes, going 5-for-8 from the floor, 2-of-3 from long distance and 7-of-8 at the free-throw line. She added three rebounds, two assists and one steal. Madison Siggins (Allentown, Pa./Parkland) also finished in double figures in scoring with 15 points and added three steals.
 
In somewhat of a sleepy, midweek game, the two teams combined for just 45 first half points. KU outscored STAC 16-7 in the opening quarter and then the Spartans responded with a 12-10 second quarter as the Maroon and Gold went into the locker room at halftime ahead 26-19.
 
The Spartans came out in the third quarter on fire, scoring the game's first seven points to tie the score at 26-26. After a missed Kutztown shot, STAC had a chance at taking its first lead of the game on its next possession, but Olivia Smelas (Jim Thorpe, Pa./Jim Thorpe), the PSAC East Defensive Athlete of the Week, came up with a steal. Taylor Gurysh (Langhorne, Pa./Neshaminy) and Smelas combined to score on their team's next two possessions and the Golden Bears led the rest of the way. St. Thomas pulled within just two, three different times during the third quarter, but Kutztown walked off the court leading by six (39-33) after three after a Kitty Randa (Horsham, Pa./Hatboro-Horsham) layup and two Ellzy free-throws in the final 0:28.
 
The Maroon and Gold remained on top through the middle of the final frame and led 49-45 with 3:45 to play, and then back-to-back baskets by Siggins and Ellzy extended the advantage to eight with just 1:42 remaining. Bella Quinn (Ashland, Ky./Russell) went 3-for-4 from the charity stripe in a span of 0:20 and the KU defense held firm, not allowing a point over the final 3:45.
 
Both Leila Hurley (Jim Thorpe, Pa./Jim Thorpe) and Smelas recorded six points with the latter adding nine rebounds and tying a career-high with six steals. Quinn tallied four points, five rebounds, two assists and two steals.
 
Kutztown can now focus its attention solely on conference play, specifically PSAC Eastern Division competition and repeating as the East's top seed for the postseason. KU hosts Lock Haven in its next game this Saturday, Jan. 10, at 1 p.m., from Keystone Arena.

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