By The Keystone Newspaper Hearn, Pulliam, lead team to NCAA Division Two Tournament
By Mary Nangle
Led by PSAC Tournament MVP Abbey Hearn and PSAC East Player of the Year Naia Pulliam, KU Women’s Basketball defeated Edinboro University of Pennsylvania, 78–64, to win its first PSAC Championship. With the win, the team earned an automatic bid to the NCAA Division II Tournament.
The Golden Bears began their PSAC Tournament run at home with a 63–50 victory over West Chester, followed by a 64–58 win against Gannon on the road. In the championship game, they faced Edinboro for a chance to secure their first-ever tournament title.
After a tied first quarter, KU trailed at halftime, 36–33. However, the Golden Bears surged ahead in the second half, dominating the third quarter and sealing the win in the fourth by outscoring Edinboro. Pulliam hit back-to-back three-pointers, and the team finished with a strong 77.78% from the free-throw line.
Hearn earned Tournament MVP honors after scoring 30 points in the final and a career-high 31 points in the semifinal against Gannon. Pulliam followed with 21 points in the final, living up to her PSAC East Player of the Year recognition.
Head Coach Janet Malouf, now in her 30th year, captured her first PSAC Conference Tournament title along with the program’s first. She holds an overall record of 445–372. Her coaching staff includes Associate Head Coach Justin Hallman, who is in his 13th season with the team.
In an interview with 69 News, Coach Malouf reflected on the team’s journey, saying, “We didn’t really have a lot of success in the beginning.” She attributed early struggles to the process of figuring out rotations and emphasized how that development is now “paying off.”
KU’s roster includes 14 players, seven of whom are freshmen. The young lineup contributed to a rocky start to the season, but the team soon found its rhythm, compiling a 12-game win streak ahead of the PSAC Tournament. Freshman standout Bella Quinn has started and played in 25 games this season.
The team now turns its focus to the NCAA Division II Tournament, hoping to make more history. The Golden Bears are still in search of their first-ever NCAA Tournament win; their last appearance came during the 2021–2022 season.