February 28, 2005 

KU WOMEN’S BASKETBALL HEADED TO MILLERSVILLE FOR PSAC QUARTERFINALS 

KUTZTOWN, PA – The Kutztown University women’s basketball team (12-14, 5-7 PSAC East, #4 seed in East) will travel to Millersville (18-8, 11-1 PSAC East, #1 seed in East) for a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) quarterfinal on Tuesday at 7:00 PM. 

            The contest will be at Millersville’s Pucillo Gymnasium.  Ticket prices are $7 for adults and $2 for students. 

            Kutztown qualified for the PSAC playoffs after defeating East Stroudsburg in the season finale to break a fourth-place tie between the two teams.  It marks the tenth consecutive season KU has qualified for the conference playoffs. 

KU vs. Millersville in 2004-05:  Millersville swept the season series between the teams. The Marauders won 54-48 at Keystone Hall and 54-40 at Pucillo Gymnasium.  Kristy Garner had double-doubles in both contests for Millersville. 

            Both games were defensive struggles and neither team cracked the 35 percent shooting mark in either contest.  In the first game, Brooke Martin (sr. Lock Haven/Central Mountain), Mercedes Van Wagner (fr. Mullica Hill, NJ/Clearview Regional) and Rachel Weidensaul (fr. Ashland/Cardinal Brennan) combined for 38 of KU's 48 points.  Martin led the Golden Bears with 15 points.  Van Wagner scored 12 points, grabbed 13 boards and swatted six shots.  Weidensaul chipped in with 11 points.  For Millersville, Danielle Marshall sank only six of her 26 field goals, but finished with 15 points.  Garner had 14 points and 13 rebounds. 

Van Wagner (16 points) and Weidensaul (14) combined for 30 of KU’s 40 points in the loss at Millersville.  Garner scored 13 points and grabbed 11 rebounds for Millersville, which clinched at least a share of the PSAC East regular-season title with the win.

Scouting the Golden Bears

Probable Starters: G-Rachel Weidensaul (Fr., 5-11, 9.3 ppg, 3.5 rpg); G-Jess Brady (So., 5-10, 10.2 ppg, 5.6 rpg) or G-Megan Bainbridge (So., 5-4, 5.8 ppg, 4.0 apg), F-Brooke Martin (Sr., 5-10, 6.0 ppg, 3.7 rpg); F-Monique Boykins (Jr., 6-2, 6.3 ppg, 8.3 rpg); F-Mercedes Van Wagner (Fr., 6-0, 10.6 ppg, 7.9 rpg) 

             Kutztown claimed the final playoff berth from the East, despite winning just four of its final 13 games after an 8-5 start.  The Golden Bears have won three of their last six, however, and are coming off one of their best performances of the season in the 65-46 win over East Stroudsburg in which KU shot 54 percent and outrebounded the Warriors 51-18.   

            The Golden Bears have played good defense and rebounded well all season, leading the PSAC in both categories.  Kutztown holds opponents to just .352 shooting from the field and gets 45.1 boards per game.  The team out-rebounds its opposition by 7.9 rebounds per game and has allowed only six of their 26 opponent to shoot over 40 percent.  KU also leads the PSAC with 117 blocks. 

            Van Wagner and Jess Brady (so. Emmaus/Emmaus) are the leading scorers.  Van Wagner hits for 10.6 ppg and also leads the squad shooting 52 percent.  Her 7.9 rebounds are second on the club.  Brady, the team’s top reserve, scores 10.2 ppg, grabs 5.6 rpg and hits 79 percent from the foul line.  Weidensaul’s 9.3 ppg rank third on the team and she leads the squad with 29 steals.  Monique Boykins (jr. Yeadon/Penn Wood) averages a team-high 8.3 rpg and is tied with Van Wagner for the team lead with 39 blocks.    Martin is the top long range threat, hitting 37 percent from downtown.  Megan Bainbridge (so. Minersville/Nativity BVM) has battled ankle injuries, but leads the team with 88 assists and has 27 steals. 

            Head coach Janet Malouf is in her 11th year at Kutztown with a career record of 175-124 (.583).  Tuesday’s game will be Malouf’s 300th as head coach of the Golden Bears. 

Kutztown in the PSAC Playoffs - History: Kutztown makes its tenth-straight appearance in the PSAC Playoffs.  KU lost to West Chester in the first round each of the last two seasons, including a 79-49 loss last year.               

Martin is the team’s only senior, and is the 12th in KU history to qualify for the PSAC playoffs in each of her four seasons.  The other nine are 1998-99 seniors Amy Wahl and Jennifer Coss, 1999-2000 seniors Angie Holland and Stacie Miscavage, 2000-01 senior Brianne Homyak, 2001-02 seniors Patti Kline and Andrea Dougherty, 2002-03 seniors Jessica Pieczynski and Becky Savage, and 2003-04 seniors Danielle Warntz and Amanda Zinobile.             

The Golden Bears are 3-12 in their 13th PSAC Playoff appearance.  KU is 2-9 under Malouf (1995-96: L-Edinboro, 98-83; 1996-97: L-Shippensburg, 68-59; 1997-98: W-Millersville, 48-41 & L-Shippensburg, 75-66; 1998-99: W-Bloomsburg, 61-59 & L-Shippensburg 54-51, 1999-2000: L, Bloomsburg, 69-61; 2000-01: L, Bloomsburg, 53-49; 2001-02: L, Millersville 67-51; 2002-03: L, West Chester 69-56; 2003-04:  L, West Chester 79-49). 

KU Top Career Performers vs. Millersville:

Brooke Martin

ü       15 points, four rebounds, three assists on February 2, 2005 (L, 54-48 at KU).

Mercedes Van Wagner

ü       2 games:  14.0 ppg, 10.5 rpg, 3.0 bpg

ü       12 points, 13 boards, six blocks on February 2, 2005 (L, 54-48 at KU).

ü       16 points, 8 rebounds on February 23, 2005. (L, 54-40 at MU).

Rachel Weidensaul

ü       2 games:  12.5 ppg, 1.000 FT% (8-of-8), 2.5 apg, 2.0 spg 

Scouting the Marauders

Probable Starters: G-Danielle Marshall (Jr., 5-7, 13.2 ppg, 1.8 spg); C-Destinne Parker-Stewart (Sr., 6-0, 11.4 ppg, 7.3 rpg); F-Kristy Garner (Sr., 5-11, 10.9 ppg, 8.9 rpg, 2.3 spg); G-Branden Lippy (So, 5-7, 9.9 ppg, 49 3-pt FG); G-Jayeneca Bailey (Jr., 5-4, 6.3 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 4.5 apg)

            The PSAC East Champion Millersville Marauders enter the tournament as one of the hottest teams in the league with a 12-game winning streak.  The Millersville women feature senior forward Kristy Garner, who has carried the team during the win streak. In 11 league contests, Garner posted double-double averages (13.6 points and 11.3 rebounds per game).  The Marauders have also received quality backcourt play from junior Jayeneca Bailey, who has registered 117 assists and 75 steals.  All season, junior Danielle Marshall has led MU in scoring (13.2 ppg), followed by senior center Destinne Parker-Stewart at 11.4 ppg, Garner at 10.9 ppg, and sophomore guard Branden Lippy at 9.8 ppg (49 three-pointers).

            The Marauders are coached by Mary Fleig, who has a 254-143 record in 15 seasons at Millersville.

Millersville in PSAC Playoffs - History:  Millersville is 17-16 all time in the PSAC tournament, dating to 1982.  This is the Marauders’ 18th appearance in the championship, and ninth in a row dating to 1997.  Millersville is 7-11 under Fleig.  MU defeated Bloomsburg, 72-66, in last year’s quarterfinals before falling to eventual national champion California (PA), 75-59, in the semifinals.  The Marauders have advanced to the semifinals each of the last three years, including an appearance in the 2002 championship game.  MU has won two PSAC titles, 1984 and 1987. 

What's at Stake:  A trip to the PSAC semifinals is one the line for the winner.  In Tuesday's other semifinals,

West Chester (East #2) hosts Bloomsburg (East #3), California (PA) (West #1) hosts Edinboro (West #4) and Clarion (West #2) hosts Shippensburg (West #3).  This year’s PSAC Final Four will be held Friday-Saturday, March 4-5, at the highest remaining Eastern Division seed after Tuesday’s quarterfinals. 

Broadcast Information: As of Monday afternoon, neither team is scheduled to broadcast the game.  If a broadcast is scheduled, information will be posted on the KU Athletics Website at kubears.com.

Weather Information: updated (10:15 AM, 3/1) the game will be played as scheduled.

February 28, 2005 

KU MEN’S BASKETBALL HEADED TO MANSFIELD FOR PSAC QUARTERFINALS 

KUTZTOWN, PA – The Kutztown University men’s basketball team (15-11, 6-6 PSAC East, #4 seed in East) will travel to Mansfield (17-10, 10-2 PSAC East, #1 seed in East) for the quarterfinal round of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) basketball championships on Tuesday at 7:00 PM. 

            The game will be at Mansfield’s Decker Gymnasium.  Tickets will be $7 for adults and $2 for students. 

            Kutztown is making its third straight trip to the PSAC playoffs.  It marks the first time in school history that the Golden Bears have qualified for the PSAC postseason three years in a row.  Mansfield is also making its third consecutive playoff appearance.  The two teams met at Mansfield in the quarterfinals last season, with third seeded Kutztown knocking off the second seeded Mountaineers, 76-72. 

KU vs. Mansfield 2004-05:  Mansfield swept the season series between the two squads, escaping Keystone Hall with a 76-75 victory and later defeating the Golden Bears 101-86 at Decker Gymnasium.   

            In the first meeting, Brandon DeShields led the Mountaineers with 23 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists.  Jason Benson added 17 points.  Five players scored in double figures for KU, led by Ty Brickus (sr. Coatesville/Coatesville) with 18 and Ben Arnold with 17.  Bobby Eberhart (sr. Lancaster/McCaskey) and Dorian Sims (so. Reading/Central Catholic) had 13 points each, while Bilal Salaam (sr. Wilmington, DE/Howard) had 11 points, 13 rebounds and six blocks.  Salaam and Brickus missed shots in the final seconds as Mansfield escaped Keystone Hall with the one-point win. 

            In the rematch, Salaam scored 25 points and became just the third player in Division II history to reach 400 career blocks, but it was not enough as Mansfield took the 101-86 win.  Benson had 21 points and 14 boards for the Mountaineers.  Mansfield used a blistering hot second half to put the game away.  Up 43-33 at the break, Mansfield connected on 72.7% of its second-half field goals (16-22) en route to 58 points in the second 20 minutes. 

Scouting the Golden Bears

Probable Starters: G-Ty Brickus (Sr., 5-9, 10.5 ppg, 3.0 apg); G-Dorian Sims (So., 6-1, 7.3 ppg, 2.9 apg); G-Bobby Eberhart (Sr., 6-3, 14.7 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 1.4 spg); F-Bilal Salaam (Sr., 6-6, 13.9 ppg, 10.1 rpg, 4.0 bpg); F-Ben Arnold (Jr., 6-6, 8.5 ppg, 6.4 rpg) 

            Kutztown is in the midst of one of the most successful three-year runs in school history under fifth-year head coach Bernie Driscoll.  He has a record of 62-72 (.463), but is 51-32 (.614) since the start of the 2002-03 season. 

            This year’s Golden Bears have wins over regionally ranked Millersville and Shippensburg, but are just 2-8 overall against the other PSAC playoff teams.   Eberhart leads the team at 14.7 ppg and in steals with 36.  Salaam is fourth in Division II in blocks at 4.2 per game and the Golden Bears average a PSAC-high 6.1 blocks per game.  The forward is also 11th in the nation in rebounding at 10.1 per game.  He scores 13.9 ppg on 56 percent shooting.  With 407 career blocks, he sits nine short of the all-time Division II record.  Brickus also scores in double figures at 10.5 ppg and leads the conference in free throw percentage at 89 percent.  Frank Moultrie (jr. Southampton/William Tennent) (9.2 ppg, 45 threes) teams with Eberhart (51 threes, 38 percent 3-pt. shooting) and Brickus (40 threes, 39 percent 3-pt. shooting) for a dangerous perimeter attack.  Ben Arnold (jr. Philadelphia/Christian Academy) (8.5 ppg, 6.4 rpg) starts opposite Salaam in the post and is one of the better offensive rebounders in the conference.  Sims (7.3 ppg) has re-entered the starting lineup of late and hit the game-winner against East Stroudsburg with nine seconds left in overtime to clinch KU’s playoff berth. 

            The Golden Bears started the season 7-1 and were ranked as highly as No. 15 in the country.  Kutztown has gone just 8-10 since, falling out of both the national and regional polls.  Many of those games in recent weeks have been nail biters.  Seven of Kutztown’s 12 PSAC East contests were decided by four points or less, with Kutztown going 3-4 in those games.            

Kutztown’s Top Career Performers vs. Mansfield:

Bilal Salaam

ü       9 games:  12.1 ppg, 7.1 rpg, 4.0 bpg

ü       9 blocks on February 20, 2002 (W, 73-64 at KU).

ü       18 points, 11 rebounds, 4 blocks on January 15, 2003 (W, 79-76 at KU).

ü       11 points, 13 rebounds, 6 blocks on January 29, 2005 (L, 76-75 at KU).

ü       25 points, 9 rebounds, 4 blocks (400th career) on February 19, 2005 (L, 101-86 at MU). 

Tyree Brickus

ü       9 games:  8.3 ppg, .394 3-pt. fg %

ü       17 points (4-of-7 shooting), 3 threes, 7 rebounds on February 12, 2003 (W, 78-69 at MU).

ü       18 points (7-of-11 shooting), 4-of-4 threes on January 29, 2005 (L, 76-75 at KU).

ü       15 points on February 19, 2005 (L, 101-86 at MU). 

Bobby Eberhart

ü       9 games:  9.9 ppg, .476 fg% (30-of-63), 1.1 spg

ü       18 points, 10 rebounds, 8-of-12 shooting in PSAC quarterfinal March 2, 2004 (W, 76-72 at MU).

ü       16 points on February 19, 2005 (L, 101-86 at MU) 

Kutztown in the PSAC Playoffs – History:  Kutztown is 3-7 all time in the PSAC playoffs.  This is KU's third straight appearance in the PSAC tournament.   Last season, Kutztown advanced to the PSAC Championship game for the second time in school history, falling to IUP 83-74 at Cheyney.  Kutztown won at Mansfield in the quarterfinals and then beat California (PA), 83-74 in the semifinals at Cheyney.  In 2003-04, the Golden Bears dropped a 74-66 decision in the first round at West Chester.  Kutztown also lost a first-round game to West Chester in 1998-99 (75-60).  Prior to that, the Golden Bears had not played in the postseason since 1987-88 when they won the PSAC Eastern Division title, defeated Lock Haven (86-84) in the semifinals and lost to California (PA), 73-64, in the championship finals.  The Golden Bears advanced to the NCAA Division II Tournament that year, falling to Gannon in the first round.             

Kutztown has appeared in the PSAC Playoffs three other times.  KU went to the post season in 1986-87 (first round-Bloomsburg 70, KU 62), 1983-84 (first round-Millersville 60, KU 53) and 1981-82 (first round-Cheyney 68, KU 40).  Kutztown has won three conference championships (1917, 1919 and 1936), but all three came before the formation of the PSAC in 1951.   

 Scouting the Mountaineers

Probable Starters: G-Brandon DeShields (Jr., 6-1, 12.9 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 3.9); G-Dave Hoopes (Jr., 6-2, 12.4 ppg 75 3pt FG); G-Jason Benson (Sr., 6-3, 17.8 ppg, 6.0 rpg); G-Jeremy Frey (Sr., 6-3, 4.8 ppg, 3.5 rpg); F-Carlos Collazo (Jr., 6-8, 12.4 ppg, 6.0 rpg)  

            Jason Benson leads Mansfield – and ranks third in the PSAC – in scoring at 17.8 ppg.  He is also tied for the team lead at 6.0 rpg.  Three other Mountaineers score at least 12 ppg.  Brandon DeShields (12.9 ppg), David Hoopes (12.4) and Carlos Collazo (12.4) give Mansfield a balanced scoring attack that produces 83.9 ppg, second in the conference.  Hoopes (75 threes, 40 percent 3-pt. shooting) and DeShields (38 percent 3-pt. shooting) are dangerous from the outside, while Collazo (56 percent FG) anchors the middle.  Brian Bryant is second in the PSAC with 4.6 assists per game and has 49 steals.

             The Mountaineers started the season just 7-9, but have won 10 of their last 11 contests en route to the PSAC East crown. 

                        Head coach Vince Alexander is in his sixth year guiding the Mountaineers.  He has a career record of 88-67 (.568) 

Mansfield in PSAC Playoffs - History:  Mansfield is no stranger to postseason play, as they are the only school to win a conference tournament every decade in the history of the tournament.  Mansfield was 21-7 last season and lost to KU in the quarterfinals, and also lost in the quarterfinals in 2002-03.  MU’s last quarterfinal victory came in 1997, when it went on to win the PSAC championship.  Mansfield is 12-8 all-time in the PSAC tournament, with six titles. 

What's at Stake:  A trip to the PSAC semifinals is one the line for the winner.  In Tuesday's other semifinals, Clarion (West #1) hosts Shippensburg (West #4), Edinboro (West #2) hosts Indiana (Pa.) (West #3) and West Chester (East #2) hosts Millersville (East #3).  This year's PSAC Final Four will be held Friday-Saturday, March 4-5, at the winner of the Edinboro/IUP contest (Clarion will not host the final four because it is hosting the Division I Eastern Wrestling League Championship this weekend).   

Broadcast Information: The game will be broadcast live by Mansfield’s student radio station, WNTE.  The Internet Webcast can be accessed via Mansfield’s Website at http://sports.mansfield.edu.  

Weather Information: updated (10:15 AM, 3/1) the game will be played as scheduled. 

February 24, 2005 

KU TRACK & FIELD HEADED TO PSAC CHAMPIONSHIPS 

KUTZTOWN, PA – The Kutztown University track & field squads head to East Stroudsburg for the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Indoor Championships on Saturday and Sunday. 

            The Golden Bear women will be looking to defend their PSAC Indoor title from last season, while the men are seeking to improve upon their third place finish. 

          Competition will run Saturday (Feb 26) from 2 to 8 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at East Stroudsburg University.  All competition will take place in the LeRoy J. Koehler Fieldhouse with the exception of the shot put and weight throw which will be conducted in the gymnasium in Zimbar-Liljenstein Hall.

            The women have a number of athletes capable of bringing home individual PSAC crowns.  Madonna Patterson (so. Philadelphia/William Penn) is the top seed in the 800-meter with a time of 2:15.66, nearly four seconds faster than that of her nearest competitor.     

            Alison Maurer (jr. Lewisberry/Northern York) will be defending her championship in the 20-lb. weight throw.  She is the top seed with a mark of 54-10. 

             Two other Golden Bears will be defending individual titles from last year as well.  Kaleena Lockard (sr. Berwick/Berwick) won the shot put a year ago and is seeded third in the event with a mark of 42-2 3/4.  In the high jump, Candice Bullard (sr. Schwenksville/Perkiomen Valley) is also defending her crown and enters the competition with a seed height of 5-3, tied for third in the conference.

             Kutztown has a pair of relay wins to defend.  The 4x400 relay will be seeking another title.  Patterson runs the anchor leg and is joined by Laura Kline (jr. Reading/Reading), Renee Marchand (so. Hawley/Wallenpaupack) and Janelle Kostishion (sr. Hilltown/Pennridge).  That group has the best time in the PSAC this season at 3:59.86.  The Golden Bears will also look to defend their 4x800 relay title from last season. 

Kline should make some noise in the 400, where she is seeded second at 58.44.  Marchand is seeded third in the pentathlon with 2,911 points. 

The men’s team is led by Dave Bartolomucci (sr. Exeter/Exeter), the defending champion in the 400, and Steve Tyson (fr. Bridgeport/Upper Merion) the top seed in the shot put. 

 Bartolomucci is seeded second in the 400 with a time of 49.70.  Tyson has a mark of 53-6 1/2 in the shot put. 

In the 55, Kareef Wallace (so. Coatesville/Coatesville) is the third seed with a time of 6.44, just .02 off the pace set by the top seed.  Mike Provenzano (jr. Carlisle/Carlisle) is the third seed in the pole after clearing 15-6.   

Kutztown also has the second seed in the 4x400 relay with a time of 3:21.78.  Bartolomucci leads off the relay, followed by Billy Boorse (so. Collegeville/Perkiomen Valley), Steve Hixson (fr. Coopersburg/Southern Lehigh) and Tony Hegedus (so. Coopersburg/Southern Lehigh).  

February 24, 2005 

WRESTLERS SET FOR NCAA EAST REGIONAL 

KUTZTOWN, PA – The Kutztown University wrestling team is headed to Pitt-Johnstown for the NCAA Division II East Regional tournament on Friday and Saturday.   

            The Golden Bears enter the regional after completing their dual season with a record of 10-2.  Kutztown is ranked No. 15 in NCAA Division II.  Pitt-Johnstown is ranked #6 in Division II, while Mercyhurst (#8), Shippensburg (#10) and Gannon (#19) will also look to make noise in the team competition.  Also competing are American International, Anderson (SC), Limestone (SC), North Carolina-Pembroke and West Liberty State (WV). 

            Kutztown will have several wrestlers hoping to qualify for the NCAA Championships to be held on March 11-12 at Nebraska-Omaha.   

            KU will be led by Bret Wade (jr. Phoenixville/Phoenixville) at 184.  Wade finished fourth at 197 and last year, but moved back to 184 this season.  He was Kutztown’s lone NCAA qualifier last season.  Limited by midseason injuries, Wade posted a 15-8 record this year with three falls and a pair of major decisions to his credit.   

            Ryan Wasser (jr. Northampton/Northampton) has been impressive at 174 after sitting out last season due to injury.  He leads the Golden Bears with a 22-11 record and has five wins by falls and five major decisions.  Wasser was sixth at the East Regional as a freshman. 

            At 285, Andy Freas (so. Wescosville/Emmaus) leads KU with nine pins.  He has a 16-13 mark for the season and will look to improve on last year’s sixth place finish at regionals.  

            Newcomer Brandon Clemmer (fr. Upper Perkiomen/Upper Perkiomen) has been very impressive as a freshman.  He has a 19-7 record at 125, with six wins by fall to his credit. 

            Two more newcomers should also be watched.  Steve Busch (fr. Exeter/Exeter) has 15 wins at 197.  Transfer Nick Nauroth (so. Quakertown/Quakertown Community) finished sixth at 133 at the PSAC Championships.   

            Head coach Rob Fisher likes the Golden Bears chances. 

             “We had a great dual match season and we’ve been working hard,”  Fisher said.  “The team is excited and in good shape, we could have a really strong showing.  A lot will depend on how the match ups unfold.” 

The top four finishers at each weight class advance to the NCAA Championships.   

            The first session of wrestling will begin on Friday at 6:00 p.m. with the preliminaries, quarterfinals and the first round of the Consolations.  On Saturday, Session II will begin at 10:00 a.m. with the Semifinals and the Consolation Quarterfinals, followed by the Consolation Semifinals.  The final of three sessions will start at 2:30 p.m., featuring the Finals, Consolation Finals, 5th/6th Place Matches and True-Fourth Matches.

February 23, 2005 

PATTERSON, TYSON EARN PSAC TRACK HONORS 

KUTZTOWN, PA – Two members of Kutztown University’s indoor track & field team were honored by the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference with weekly awards. 

           Madonna Patterson (so. Philadelphia/William Penn) was named Female Track Athlete of the Week, while Steve Tyson (fr. Bridgeport/Upper Merion) was named Male Field Athlete of the Week. 

            Patterson provisionally qualified for the NCAA Championships with her time of 2:15.66 in the 800-meter run.  In addition to finishing fifth in that event at the Princeton Invitational, Patterson also helped the 4x400 relay team take first in a PSAC best time of 3:59.86. 

            Tyson won the shot put at the Princeton Invitational with a PSAC best toss of 53-6 1/2.  His mark provisionally qualifies him for the NCAA Championships and leads the PSAC by over six inches.   

            KU will return to action at the PSAC Indoor Championships at East Stroudsburg Saturday and Sunday.

February 24, 2005

BASKETBALL TEAMS’ PLAYOFF FATES TO BE DECIDED SATURDAY VS. ESU

KUTZTOWN, PA – The Kutztown University men’s and women’s basketball teams will decide their Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Playoff destiny on Saturday when the teams host East Stroudsburg. 

           The women's game will tipoff at 1:00 PM, followed at 3:00 PM by the men's contest at Keystone Hall. 

           The scenarios for entry into the PSAC Playoffs are simple for both teams - win and you're in; lose and your season is over.  Both of Kutztown’s basketball team can clinch the #4 seed in next week’s PSAC Playoffs.

            For the Golden Bear women’s basketball team, KU and ESU enter the game with an identical 4-7 mark in the PSAC East. Kutztown is 11-14 overall, while the Warriors are 11-15.  In the teams’ first meeting, East Stroudsburg recorded a 61-53 victory over KU at Koehler Field House on February 5 and has won the last three meetings overall between the teams.  The winner of the game will travel to either Millersville or West Chester for the quarterfinals on Tuesday, March 1.

            For the men, both ESU and KU stand at 5-6 in the PSAC East.  The Golden Bears are 14-11 overall, while the Warriors are 12-14.  In the first meeting, Kutztown notched a 51-50 win on February 5.  ESU played the game without five key players – including three starters.  The winner of the game will travel to Mansfield, the #1 seed in the PSAC East, for the quarterfinals on Tuesday, March 1.

February 22, 2005 

GOLDEN BEAR NETWORK TO PARTNER WITH KU RADIO STATION
First Webcast/Radio Broadcast Set for Wednesday Night 

KUTZTOWN, PA – Kutztown University’s Golden Bear Network broadcasts will now be available on the University’s new student-radio station. 

            Beginning with Wednesday’s broadcast of Kutztown’s basketball games at Millersville, KU sports fans will be able to hear the broadcast on KUR, the university's new student-radio station.  KUR can be heard on campus on 88.3  FM, throughout eastern Berks County on the audio of KUTV Channel 24 on Service Electric Cablevision, and on Channel 44 in Kutztown on Hometown Utilicom TV.  As usual, the broadcasts will remain available to fans throughout the World on the Web at kubears.com.  

            "Our debut on KUR is the culmination of years of effort to expand possibilities for our Golden Bear Network broadcasts,”  said Matt Santos, KU’s director of athletic advancement and coordinator of the Golden Bear Network.  “We are excited about building the partnership and growing with the station in the coming years." 

            Wednesday’s broadcasts begin at 5:55 PM with the women’s game.  Men’s coverage will begin at approximately 8:00 PM. 

            Additional simulcasts of potential basketball playoff games, and select baseball/softball games this spring will be offered.  For a complete schedule, click here.

February 21, 2005

SALAAM, VAN WAGNER EARN PSAC WEEKLY BASKETBALL HONORS

KUTZTOWN, PA – Two Kutztown University basketball players have earned weekly honors from the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC).

          Forward Bilal Salaam (sr. Wilmington, DE/Howard HS), of the men’s team, was named PSAC East Men’s Co-Player of the Week.  Center Mercedes Van Wagner (fr. Mullica Hill, NJ/Clearview Regional), of the women’s team, was named PSAC East Rookie of the Week.

            Despite an 0-2 week, Salaam had a stellar stretch by averaging 23.0 points, 12.5 rebounds and 4.5 blocks per game.  During that span, he hit 70.8% (14-24) of his shots, including 4 of 5 3-pointers.  He produced 21 points and 14 rebounds and five blocks vs. West Chester, and posted a season-high 25 points with nine rebounds vs. Mansfield. Salaam shared the Player of the Week award with Mansfield’s Jason Benson.

            Salaam, who was also named Player of the Week on December 6, is averaging 13.8 points, 10.4 rebounds and 4.2 blocks per game and hits 55% of his field goals.  Salaam became the third player in Division II history to reach 400 career blocks on Saturday vs. Mansfield.  He is 14 blocks shy of the D-II record of 416.  The Golden Bears are 13-11 overall, 4-6 in the PSAC East with two games remaining in the regular season.

            Van Wagner helped lead Kutztown to a win over then divisional-leading West Chester by recording a double-double performance with 14 points and 13 rebounds. She also added two assists, two steals and two blocks in the win. Versus Mansfield, Van Wagner shot 4-7 from the field, scoring nine points, pulling down four boards, and had three blocks.