KU Women’s Basketball team wins eighth straight game
By Tommy Scuderi
At the beginning of the year, Coach Janet Malouf, in her 30th season as head coach of the KU women’s basketball team, had this to say when asked about her message to fans: “We ask for patience, we have seven freshman and they are all going to be a part of what we are doing, there may be some learning curves but we are going to be a contender by the end of the year. Be prepared to grow with us but be excited by us.”
Photo Credit: Kutztown Sports Information Department
The beginning of the year proved to be a bit rocky for the younger KU squad, coming out to a 6-10 start and losing two tough games against Shippensburg and West Chester.
But then, Coach Malouf’s words proved to be true. KU knocked off Mansfield, Bloomsburg, Millersville, and Clarion to fight their way back to .500, then won four more against Shepherd, East Stroudsburg, Mansfield and Lock Haven. KU now sits at 14-10 overall and 9-6 in conference play.
Following their thrilling 70-69 victory over Lock Haven on Feb. 5, KU secured not only its eighth straight win but also jumped to second place in the PSAC East, just one game behind Lock Haven, which holds a 10-6 conference record.This resurgence has been lead largely by senior Naia Pulliam (17.5 PPG), junior Leila Hurley (10.7 PPG), graduate student Abbey Hearn (8.8 PPG), junior Olivia Smelas (8.5 PPG), and freshman Bella Quinn (4.3 PPG, 2.8 APG), alongside strong defensive and board hunting performances from redshirt junior Shannon Remolde, freshman Jess Aponik, freshman Alexa Windish, and senior Bella Arcuri. It has been an all-around team effort that now puts KU back in the hunt to make the playoffs for the fourth year in a row.