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KUTZTOWN, PA - Taylor Montana (Berwick, Pa./Berwick) posted 11 points, five rebounds, and five assists, but an offensive eruption from Kutztown in the second half would propel the Golden Bears to a 70-65 win over the Bloomsburg University women's basketball team Wednesday night. With the win, Kutztown draws even with the Huskies atop the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) East at 11-4, 13-9 overall, while Bloomsburg drops to 15-7, 11-4 in the conference.

Winners of six straight entering the contest, the Huskies were sharp out of the gates Wednesday, building a 10-point lead midway through the second quarter thanks to a jumper from Payton Spadaccino (Ivyland, Pa./Council Rock South) and back-to-back layups from Megan Brandt (Lebanon, Pa./Northern Lebanon) and Bella Ricci (Etters, Pa./Red Land). The Bloomsburg lead would expand to as large as 13 on a Marissa Molnar (Erie, Pa./McDowell) triple late in the second quarter, but a three-pointer from Kutztown's Rylee Derr would trim the Huskies lead to 10, and give the Golden Bears momentum heading into the locker room.

Bloomsburg would limit Kutztown to just 22 first half points on 8-of-22 shooting. The Huskies were 13-of-26 (50.0%) from the floor as a team, and forced 14 Golden Bears turnovers in the half.

The tides would drastically shift in favor of Kutztown early in the third quarter, however, as the Golden Bears would use a 19-3 run over the first six minutes of the frame to take a 40-37 lead with 4:00 to play in the period. After a back-and-forth end to the third, the Huskies would fight back to tie it at 49-49 midway through the fourth quarter, but a three-pointer from Derr and a layup from Karen Lapkiewicz would put the game out of reach for Kutztown.

The Golden Bears shot 60.7% from the floor in the second half, and outscored Bloomsburg 48-33 as a team. Kutztown was tremendous from distance in the half, tallying six three-pointers on just 10 attempts.

Kalee Fuegel was the catalyst for the Bears in the second half, pouring in 14 points on a perfect 6-of-6 from the floor, including a pair of clutch three-pointers. She finished the game with a team-high 16 points on 7-of-8 shooting, while Karen Lapkiewicz added 14 points. Rylee Derr posted a double-double with 13 points and a game-high 11 rebounds, and Brianna Tarabocchia added nine points.

Saxton paced the Huskies with 13 points on 5-of-6 shooting from the field. The sophomore has now reached double-digits scoring in her last 14 games, and ranks in the top 16 in all of Division II in field goal percentage at 59.0% on the season. Brandt tallied 12 points and a game-high four steals, while Montana finished with 11 points, five rebounds, and a game-high five assists.

The Huskies were 24-of-54 (44.4%) from the floor as a team, and just 4-of-14 (28.6%) from three-point territory. Kutztown finished 25-of-50 (50.0%) from the field, and out-rebounded Bloomsburg 32-25. 

Denied an opportunity to clinch a PSAC Tournament berth with the loss Wednesday, The Huskies will once again look to punch their ticket with a win at Lock Haven this Saturday, February 9. Bloomsburg defeated the Bald Eagles 77-58 at home back on January 2. Tip-off is set for 1:00 p.m. Saturday.