KU drops final home game of regular season to Bloomsburg

KUTZTOWN, PA (February 27, 2010) -- In the first ever campus Gold Rush, the Kutztown University women's basketball team lost 72-67 to Bloomsburg in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) East contest. Boxscore

Before the game, all seniors of the game, were recognized for their accomplishments and efforts made the to the women's basketball program.

KU seniors Rachel Wisemiller, Vivian Melvin, Chauntelle Schroeder and Katie Dovey were honored on the court, with their parents by their side. The four athletes were presented flowers and a team gift as they posed for pictures while their career contributions were announced over the PA system.

Kutztown had three players score in double digits. Melissa McQuade scored 17 points to lead Kutztown. Meredith Starr tied her career high for the second straight game with 14 points. Freshman Ashley Wood scored 12 points.

Entering the second half trailing, 33-32, Kutztown (18-9, 9-5) refused to go down without a fight making Bloomsburg (16-10, 8-6) work for the win.

Kutztown's seven 3-pointers made by three different players provided four different lead changes in the second half. Kutztown never trailed the Huskies by more than six points in the second half, a difference from their first half efforts.

The Golden Bears and Huskies also tied each other six different times throughout the game. Starr's 3-pointer from the corner in front of the KU bench provided the final tie of the game, 62-62. Bloomsburg took the lead for good on its next possession following a Kelsey Gallagher layup with 3:16 remaining.

Kutztown's strong second half efforts started on Melvin's jumper for a 34-33 lead. As the teams traded leads, McQuade gave KU its final lead of the game, 51-50, with 9:29 remaining.

The Golden Bears started the first half slowly. For the second straight game, the Golden Bears fell behind 10 points in first half. Just five minutes into the game, Kutztown trailed 15-5.

A quick turnaround in the next four minutes of play allowed the Golden Bears to score 14 consecutive points. McQuade started the drive with two-three pointers back-to-back, followed by a layup by Steph Zewe.

Schroeder's jumper tied the game. Wood sunk in two fouls for the Golden Bears to take the lead for the first time in the game. A steal by Schroeder allowed Melvin's jumper to put the Golden Bears ahead 19-15.

With six seconds remaining in the first half, Starr rebounded and dribbled across the court, and passed to Wood for the jumper to narrow the Huskies lead to 33-32 heading into the half.

For the second consecutive season, and 16th in program history, the basketball program will enter the PSAC playoffs. Kutztown will host Bloomsburg at 7 p.m. on Tuesday March 2. The game will be broadcast live on KUTV Channel 24 and 28.

--KU--

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