Box Score Philadelphia, Pa. - (11/24/2015) – Kutztown University narrowly led Chestnut Hill College at the end of the first quarter, 16-15, but the second quarter made all the difference in tonight's contest as the Golden Bears separated for a 42-27 halftime lead before leaving the Griffins behind in a 79-61 final. Newcomers, freshmen forward Jaeda Wildgoose (Somerset, N.J.) and guard Mary Trossi (Somerset, N.J.) led the Griffin effort, which got plenty of help from junior transfer Caity Kuhnen (Binghamton, N.Y.).
 
Wildgoose captained Chestnut Hill College's (1-1) opening energy, putting in the hard work down low and helping to earn extra possessions and spread the ball around. With a balanced attack the Griffins never trailed by more than three points and held the lead three times in the period before a pair for free throws from junior forward Gina Lewis (Atlantic City, N.J.) put Kutztown University (3-1) ahead 16-15 after the initial ten minutes of play.
 
Another pair of Golden Bears free throws put the home team up 18-15 (8:51), but a retaliatory three-point basket from Kuhnen even the contest at 18-18 with 8:43 remaining in the quarter. But that is when the contest change its complexion, as senior guard Natalya Lee (Feasterville, Pa.) continued what junior guard Kara Funk (Dover, Pa.) started, increasing the home team's advantage to double digits, 35-25, with 3:11 remaining in the second quarter and 15 points by the end of the half, 42-27.
 
The Golden Bears' lead expanded to 20 points late in the fourth quarter (70-50 @ 4:35), reaching its largest margin at 74-50 with 2:45 left to play. Trossi and sophomore forward Nicole Parriski (Burlington, N.J.) commissioned the Griffins' final rally which cut the final margin to 18 points.
 
Four Golden Bears finished in double figures with Lee and junior guard Jenna Altomare (Pennsylvania Furnace, Pa.) leading the way with 15 points apiece. Junior forward Kelsey Watson (Collegeville, Pa.) followed with 13 points and freshman forward Mariah Maciejewski (Dunmore, Pa.) offered ten points, but it was four Golden Bears grabbing at least five rebounds and three providing five or more assists that propelled Kutztown University to the victory.
 
Trossi scored 13 of her 15 points in the first half. She added four rebounds and three assists to the effort, complementing the outside shooting of Kuhnen and the inside play of Wildgoose. Wildgoose recorded nine points, a team-high 15 rebounds, an assist and a block, while Kuhnen hit three from long range (3-of-5, .600) in a nine-point performance that came with nine rebounds, an assist, two blocks, and two steals. Junior captain Brittany McDonough (Brooklyn, N.Y.) chimed in with eight points, two rebounds, four assists, and five steals.
 
Following the Thanksgiving break, the women's basketball team travels to East Stroudsburg University for the Pocono Classic where they face the host Warriors in a 3:00 p.m. contest on Saturday, November 28, before challenging Glenville State University in a 1:00 p.m. contest on Sunday, November 29.