KUTZTOWN-Sophomore guard Kelsey Gallagher (East Stroudsburg, East Stroudsburg South) scored 27 points to lead Bloomsburg University to a 72-67 win over Kutztown University in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) East women's basketball action on Saturday. The victory clinched a spot in the 2010 PSAC Tournament for the Huskies, their first trip since the 2004-05 season.

Bloomsburg (16-10, 8-6) started out strong, taking an 8-1 lead 3:13 into the contest on the strength of two three-pointers by Gallagher. The Huskies then stretched their lead to 15-5 at the 14:46 mark after freshman guard Dana Wieller (Bethlehem, Liberty) hit a three-pointer of her own.

The Golden Bears (18-9, 9-5) then took control, going on a 14-0 run over the next 3:10 to take a 19-15 lead. After a pair of free throws by Wieller a minute later, both teams went cold, as neither scored for nearly four minutes. A free throw by the Golden Bears put them up 20-17 at the 7:48 mark, but then Wieller and freshman forward Kayla Oxenrider (Ashland, Tri-Valley) hit back-to-back three's to put the Huskies back up 23-20.

Kutztown came right back, getting a pair of free throws from Melissa McQuade to cut the deficit to one, but freshman guard Jordan Pasik (Gilbertsville, St. Pius X) hit her own three, extending the Bloomsburg lead to 26-22 with 5:38 left in the half. Kutztown came back to control the last few minutes, but the Huskies would hang onto the lead, taking a 33-32 advantage into halftime.

The Golden Bears came out strong in the second half, scoring the first five points and taking a 37-33 lead at the 17:48 mark. The Huskies responded, getting a three by Gallagher on their next trip down the floor, starting an 11-4 run as Bloomsburg took a 44-41 lead.

Kutztown came back, taking a 51-50 advantage at the 9:29 mark on a three by Meredith Starr. The Huskies responded with a 12-6 run, taking a 62-57 lead four minutes later. A layup by McQuade and another three by Starr tied the game less than two minutes later, but Bloomsburg took control over the final 3:34, going on an 8-0 run and eventually winning by five.

McQuade finished with 17 points while Starr had 14 for the Golden Bears. Gallagher went 9-of-15 from the floor, including 4-of-8 from beyond the three-point line in 38 minutes of action. Wieller had 18 points, going a perfect 8-of-8 from the foul line while freshman forward Christine Sereta (Drums, Hazleton Area) added 11 rebounds for the Huskies.

By virtue of the Bloomsburg as well as West Chester's 88-69 home win over East Stroudsburg and Cheyney's 71-66 victory over visiting Shippensburg today, the Huskies will be the third seed in the PSAC tournament and will travel back to second-seeded Kutztown on Tuesday night for rematch against the Golden Bears. Bloomsburg swept the season series, defeating Kutztown 46-45 at home earlier this year. Tip-off on Tuesday is set for 7:00 p.m.