Box Score (HTML)

KUTZTOWN, Pa. – Kutztown started hot, but it was the Bloomsburg University women's basketball team that dominated late on the way to a 71-58 victory at Keystone Arena on Wednesday evening.

The 19th-ranked Huskies move to 21-3 overall and 18-2 in the PSAC and took a large step toward clinching the top seed in the Eastern Division with the victory.

Kutztown (10-15, 9-12 PSAC) honored its seniors prior to Wednesday's game, and the Golden Bears appeared to ride the Senior Night momentum in the early going by jumping out to a 9-0 lead before a long jumper from the far corner from Marla Simmons (Lebanon/Cedar Crest) finally got the Huskies on the board over three and a half minutes in.

The Golden Bears snuffed out every potential first half momentum swing, using another 9-0 sprint to seize a 33-22 cushion with 2:12 left in the opening period.

Bloomsburg scored the final six points of the half, pulling within a 34-28 margin at halftime as the Golden Bears used domination in the paint for their lead – outscoring Bloomsburg 22-4 inside over the opening 20 minutes. Ten points from Jocelyn Ford (Lansing, NY/Lansing) in the first half helped the Huskies remain in striking distance.

Natalya Lee drained a 3-pointer on Kutztown's first possession of the second half to lead, 37-28, but the Huskies then began their rally.

Bloomsburg took its first lead of the game at the 14:28 mark when Camden Boehner (Gettysburg/Gettysburg Area) found Erica Maciejewski (Red Lion/Red Lion) under the basket on a give-and-go for a 40-39 edge.

Kutztown momentarily re-gained the lead, moving ahead 43-40 following an off-balance runner from Advia Campbell.

Boehner answered on the other end with a rainbow 3-pointer for the 43-43 tie with 13:09 remaining, then after a defensive stop, Taylor Maldonado (Stroudsburg/Allentown Central Catholic) put one in high off the glass for a 45-43 Huskies advantage as part of a 9-0 run.

Kutztown continued to hang around, pulling to a 53-49 score following free throws by Elisa Gaffney at with eight minutes remaining.

Bloomsburg then embarked on another 9-0 break sparked by Erica Maciejewski (Red Lion/Red Lion) to seize control of the contest. Maciejewski was vital to the Huskies' second half turnaround, scoring all of her 11 points after halftime as Bloomsburg rallied.

Ford scored 15 points to power the Huskies offensively, adding five rebounds and four assists. Maciejewski pulled down seven rebounds to go along with her season-high 11 points, also handing out three assists. Simmons finished with 12 points, five rebounds and four assists as well.

Gaffney netted 17 points to lead all scorers for Kutztown.

Bloomsburg hits the road again on Saturday, travelling to Millersville.

GAME NOTES: Bloomsburg held a 39-27 edge in rebounding ... Bloomsburg had just nine attempts at the foul line, but made eight. Kutztown went just 11-of-21 at the stripe ... Simmons scored in double figures for the 10th straight game ... Maldonado added 10 points to give the Huskies four players in double-figure scoring ... Adreana Sadowski (Fleetwood/Brandywine Heights)'s block gives her 111 for her Huskies career and moves her into sole possession of fourth all-time in school history ... 22 of Bloomsburg's 39 rebounds were on the offensive glass ... Bloomsburg has won 12 straight over Kutztown ... The Huskies can clinch the No. 1 seed from the East with a win Saturday at Millersville.