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KUTZTOWN—Kelsey Gallagher (East Stroudsburg, East Stroudsburg South) scored 19 points to lead four players in double figures as the Bloomsburg University women's basketball team hung on to beat Kutztown 87-84 on Saturday afternoon in PSAC (Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference) Eastern Division action. 

The Huskies (10-4, 2-0 PSAC East) grabbed control of the game by jumping out to a 20-6 lead through the first six and a half minutes of action. Kayla Oxenrider (Ashland, Tri-Valley) and Lauren Ellis (Bangor, Bangor) both scored five points to lead Bloomsburg. 

Kutztown (5-9, 1-1 PSAC East) cut into the Huskies double lead by going on an 8-0 run and making it a 22-18 game with 9:30 left in the half. But Bloomsburg answered the rally with a barrage of three-points over a three minute stretch to push the lead back to 12 points. In the three minute stretch the Huskies got two three-pointers from both Gallagher and Courtney Nyce (Schwenksville, Perkiomen Valley), four of the Huskies nine first half three-pointers. 

After Kutztown closed the gap back to six points, 39-33, with 4:05 left in the half Bloomsburg closed out the half with a 14-5 run. Dana Wieller (Bethlehem, Liberty) hit two three-pointers putting the Huskies on top 53-38 at the break. 

Bloomsburg started the second half grabbing its biggest lead of the game to that points, 61-43, by going on an 8-3 run with Gallagher and Brianna Dudeck (Sugarloaf, Hazleton)both hitting three-pointers. The Huskies would later make it a 20-point lead at 67-47 with 14:12 to go before Kutztown came storming back.

The Golden Bears used a 24-9 run to cut the deficit to seven points, 76-71, with 6:04 left in the game. Melissa McQuade led the run for Kutztown by scoring 13 points over the eight minute stretch. After the Golden Bears cut the lead to four points, Oxenrider hit layup pushing the lead back to six points, 80-74.

After Kutztown got to within 80-77 on a McQuade basket with 4:31 the teams traded misses and fouls over the next two minutes. Nyce finally answered for the Huskies making it a five point lead at 82-77 with 1:56 left. Kutztown though came back outscoring the Huskies 7-2 to pull to within 85-84 with 38 seconds to play.

After the Huskies missed a shot Kutztown rebounded and had a chance for the win. But McQuade missed a jumper and could not hang on to the rebound. Nyce was then fouled with 0.4 seconds remaining and hit two free throws to make it an 87-84. Kutztown's final heave from half court was off the mark giving the Huskies the win.

Along with Gallagher scoring 19 points, Oxenrider chipped in with 14 points, while Alyssa Flanagan (Freeland, Hazleton Area) and Lauren Ellis (Bangor/Bangor) added 12 each. In addition, Nyce also added 10 points for Bloomsburg. McQuade scored a game-high 30 points, while Andrea Sisson added 17 points and Ashley Wood 15 for Kutztown.

Bloomsburg will host Shippensburg on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m.at the Nelson Field House.