Women's Basketball
Game Recap

Golden Bears advance to Final Four

NCAA Women’s Basketball

Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2006 

Kutztown (16-11, #4 PSAC East)                       55 
East Stroudsburg (16-12, #1 PSAC East)           50
COMPLETE STATS

EAST STROUDSBURG, PA – Kutztown University defeated East Stroudsburg, 55-50, in the quarterfinal of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) playoffs. 

           This is the first time since the 1998-99 season Kutztown has won the quarterfinal game when it beat Bloomsburg, 61-59.           

            Mercedes Van Wagner led the Golden Bears with 25 points and 13 rebounds.  Lara Dellegrotti added 13 points off the bench.  Rachel Weidensaul dished out seven assists. Megan Bainbridge dished out four assists to bring her season total to 145, a Kutztown single-season school record.

            “Mercedes had a very good defensive game”, said head coach Janet Malouf.  “Lara had a good game off the bench and Rachel played hard on defense and shut down ESU’s key player (Jaclyn) Yandrisevits.” 

            Maryellen Onofre led the Warriors with 15 points.  Jasmine Gittens added 11.  Monika Fogelsanger pulled in 11 boards. 

            The first half stayed tight as each team had a lead of five. East Stroudsburg took a 23-22 lead into halftime. 

            The Golden Bears took their biggest lead, 45-37, with 6:03 left in the contest.  Kutztown sat on 45 points for three minutes, but ESU only managed two points.  The Warriors chipped back to within two points, 52-50, with 19 second left.  Dellegrotti was fouled and made both free throw to make the score 54-50.  Onofre missed a three-pointer.  Weidensaul grabbed the rebound and was fouled.  Weidensaul made the second throw, 55-50.  Onofre took one last shot but time had run out. 

            “This was one of our better playoff wins.  It broke our four game skid while ESU had won six straight”, said coach Malouf on the win. “We shot well from the floor, got after them and defended. Even though we were underdogs I’m not surprised at the outcome because the east was so even this year, anything could happen.” 

            Kutztown will play Edinboro on Friday night (3/3) at 6:00 PM.  The contest will be at California (PA).