The Bloomsburg University women’s basketball team dropped a 70-65 decision to Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) rival Kutztown University on Wednesday night. With the loss, the Huskies dropped to 15-6 (11-4 PSAC) overall. Kutztown improved to 13-9 (11-4 PSAC) with the victory.
Sophomore guard Emma Saxton led the Huskies with 13 points. Megan Brandt chipped in with 12 points off the bench in the loss.
With the loss, the Huskies ended a six-game winning streak and gave up their sole posession of first place in the PSAC Eastern division. The Huskies and the Golden Bears now have identical 11-4 record in PSAC play. A win for the Huskies would have kept them in sole posession of first and Kutztown staying in second.
No one on the Bloomsburg roster had a standout game as most of the Huskies finished around the ten point mark in the loss.
Bloomsburg was dominated inside the paint, as they were held to just four offensive rebounds all game.
The Huskies led at halftime by a score of 32-22. Kutztown outscored BU 23-11 in the third quarter to take their first lead of the game.
This marks another instance of Bloomsburg going into the break at halftime and letting up a big lead. Even in previous wins, the Huskies saw a big haltime lead cut down to a nail biter towards the end of the game. Kalee Fuegel led the Golden Bears with 16 points in the win with two clutch three pointers to help Kutztown take a lead in the second half.
The biggest part of the Golden Bears defense was containing junior Taylor Montana under the basket. The Huskies star was held to just 11 points in the loss and did not record a single offensive rebound for Bloomsburg. Before tonight, Montana has averaged 13 points and 7.5 rebounds for the Huskies so far this season.
Bloomsburg now continues to struggle on the road as the loss against Kutztown brings their away record to 2-6 in the 2018-19 season. The Huskies will have to look to improve on the road if they consider themselves to be true PSAC Championship contenders.
WIth the loss, the Huskies also slimmed down their chances of being able to host the PSAC tournament at the Nelson Field House, which would block out the idea of having to go onto the road for post-season play.
The loss for the Huskiesmakes the upcoming games even more important than they already were. With just six games remaining before the PSAC tournament, and five of them being PSAC contests, head coach Allison Tagliaferi knows her team has a lot to look ahead to before thinking about the post-season.
Bloomsburg continues its road trip as it travels to Lock Haven University on Saturday afternoon, February 9, to face the Bald Eagles. Tip-off is slated for 1:00 p.m. at the Thomas Field House on the campus of Lock Haven.
The Huskies defeated Lock Haven at home back on Jan. 2 by a score of 77-58.