KUTZTOWN UNIVERSITY

THE MATCH-UP: Kutztown (19-9 overall), the second seed from the East meets Gannon (31-0), the top seed from the West in the second semifinal at 7:30 p.m. at Gannon’s Hammermill Center. The Golden Bears are in the PSAC semifinals for the first time since 2006 when they lost to Edinboro, 77-46.

FINALLY FOUR: West Chester (19-9) meets California (22-6) in the first semifinal at 5:30 p.m. at the Hammermill Center. The two semifinal winners will meet in Saturday’s PSAC championship contest at 7 p.m. The winner earns an automatic bid to the NCAA Division II tournament. The pairings will be announced on Sunday.

SENIOR SALUTE:  Over the last two years, the Kutztown senior class of Rachel Wisemiller, Vivian Melvin, Chauntelle Schroeder and Katie Dovey has combined for 39 victories. The Golden Bears have qualified for the PSAC playoffs in each of the last two years. With a victory over Gannon, the Golden Bear senior class will have posted consecutive 20-win seasons for the first time in women’s basketball history.


KU vs. GANNON: Kutztown is 2-2 all-time against Gannon and 1-1 in Erie. However, Gannon has won the last meetings against the Golden Bears.

1/2/10 – L 68-86                     (at Kutztown)
1/3/09 – L 59-98                     (at Gannon)    
12/30/96 – W 63-62                (at Gannon)
1/6/95 – W 62-60                    (at Kutztown)

LAST MEETING: Although, Kutztown’s four-game winning streak ended, senior guard Vivian Melvin (Chichester/Chichester) scored a career-high 18 points and Melissa McQuade (Pittsburgh/Shaler) added 16 points. Rachel Wisemiller (Hazleton/Hazleton) had a three blocked shots to go with her 13 points. Junior guard Meredith Starr (Richmond, VA/Monacan) was the fourth Kutztown player to reach double digits (13 points). Gannon also matched KU with four players in double digits highlighted by Kristina Freeman’s double-double (18 points, 10 rebounds). Carrie Nolan scored 14 points and Brittany Tabron added 13 points. Kutztown and Gannon were tied, 41-41, at halftime and at 49-49 with 15 minutes remaining before the Golden Knights pulled away.

SCOUTING GANNON: The Golden Knights own the second-longest winning streak at any level of the NCAA, behind NCAA Division I Connecticut’s 69-game streak. The squad is the lone undefeated team left in NCAA Division II and one of five women’s teams at any level. Division I UConn (30-0), Division I Nebraska (27-0), Division III Amherst (25-0) and Division III Christopher Newport (27-0) also have unblemished marks. Gannon has won 40 consecutive regular season contests. Gannon’s top three scorers are Kristina Freeman (14.1 points per game), Carrie Nolan (12.1) and Brittany Tabron (11.3, 8.2 rebounds per game). Gannon leads the PSAC in scoring offense (79.3), scoring margin (+21.5), field goal percentage (48.2), 3-point field goal (38.2), assists (19.4), assist-to-turnover ratio (1.2) and 3-pointers made per game (8.1). The Golden Knights are second in the PSAC in scoring defense (57.7), 3-point field goal percentage defense (28.4) and rebounding margin (+7.9). Twenty-six of Gannon’s victories have been by double digits this season.

KUTZTOWN IN THE PSAC PLAYOFFS: Kutztown is making its 16th PSAC playoff appearance.  The Golden Bears are 5-15 all-time in the PSAC post-season, including a 4-12 mark under coach Janet Malouf (1995-96: L-Edinboro, 98-83; 1996-97: L-Shippensburg, 68-59; 1997-98: W-Millersville, 48-41 & L-Shippensburg, 75-66; 1998-99: W-Bloomsburg, 61-59 & L-Shippensburg 54-51, 1999-2000: L, Bloomsburg, 69-61; 2000-01: L, Bloomsburg, 53-49; 2001-02: L, Millersville, 67-51; 2002-03: L, West Chester, 69-56; 2003-04:  L, West Chester, 79-49; 2004-05: L, Millersville, 69-56; 2005-06: W, East Stroudsburg, 55-50 & L-Edinboro, 77-46; 2008-09: L, Millersville, 75-64; 2009-10: W, Bloomsburg, 74-67, OT). Prior to Malouf taking the reigns, KU had appeared in four playoff contests (1990-91: L, Bloomsburg, 63-43; 1989-90: L, Cheyney, 63-41; 1988-89: W, East Stroudsburg, 59-52 & L, Edinboro, 82-70)

From 1996-2006, KU appeared in 11 straight PSAC playoffs. Kutztown has never advanced to the championship, compiling an 0- 4 record.

KUTZTOWN HEAD COACH JANET MALOUF: Janet Malouf is in her 16th season as Kutztown head coach. The playoff win over Bloomsburg was her 250th career as head coach. The Golden Bears, under Malouf have won 20 games in a single season four times. The 1998-99 team holds the school record for wins in a season with 21. During her 16 seasons at Kutztown, Malouf has led the Golden Bears to more wins (250) and PSAC East victories (115) than any previous coach. She was named the PSAC East Coach of the Year in 2008-09 for the third time in her career, while 13 of her players have earned a total of 26 All-PSAC East Awards. She has coached one PSAC Player of the Year and two PSAC Rookies of the Year. She holds a 250-187 overall record.

KUTZTOWN IN THE PSAC RANKINGS: The Golden Bears are second in the PSAC in assists (18.0) and assist-to-turnover ratio (1.1). They are third in the conference field goal percentage defense (35.9) and 3-point field goal percentage (35.1). Kutztown also ranks fifth in scoring offense (70.1), field goal percentage (41.5), blocked shots (4.0), rebounding (41.1), sixth in scoring margin (+7.0), 3-point field goal defense (30.3) and seventh in scoring defense (63.1).

THE STARTING FIVE: Vivian Melvin, Melissa McQuade, Rachel Wisemiller, Chauntelle Schroeder and Meredith Starr have started every game this season for the Golden Bears. Kutztown has had the same starters for all 28 games.

Melvin: Averaging 8.8 points per game and 4.8 rebounds per game. She leads the team in assists with 111 and is seventh in the PSAC (4.0). Melvin is also sixth in the conference in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.5). Melvin has scored in double digits 12 times this season. She scored a career high 18 points against Gannon on Jan. 2. Melvin has handed out five or more assists nine times this season. She scored 14 points in PSAC quarterfinal win against Bloomsburg.

McQuade: Leads the Golden Bears in scoring (15.6) and rebounding (8.6). McQuade has scored in double digits 25 times this season. She has recorded seven double-doubles, including one in the PSAC quarterfinals against Bloomsburg with 22 points and 15 rebounds. McQuade has scored 20 or more points in three of KU’s last four games. She is seventh on the all-time Kutztown University scoring chart with 1,150 points. With 17 points against Gannon, McQuade will move past Patti Blackman (1,166) and into sixth place on the all-time scoring list. McQuade has led Kutztown in scoring 17 times, including the last five games. She has been named the PSAC East player of the week two times this year. McQuade is seventh in the PSAC in free-throw percentage (82.5), eighth in rebounding (8.4), ninth in scoring (15.6) and eighth in 3-point field goal percentage (39.4).

Starr: Is second on the team in assists with 90. Starr is averaging 8.3 points and 2.9 rebounds per game. She tied her career-high with 14 points in consecutive games last week at Cheyney and Bloomsburg. She has made at least one 3-pointer in 19 games. Starr has scored in double digits eight times this season.

Wisemiller: She enters the game with 997 career points. Wisemiller is the second leading scorer (10.4 points per game). She is poised to become the 13th Golden Bear woman and second this season to reach 1,000 career points. She also leads the Golden Bears in blocked shots (52) and 3-pointers made (57). Wisemiller is second on the all-time KU list in 3-pointers made (169) and fifth in blocked shots (107). She was named PSAC East player of the week on Dec. 15. Wisemiller has scored in double digits 16 times. She is seventh in 3-point field goals made per game (2.0) and seconds in blocks (1.9).