Millersville, Pa. - In search of its first PSAC win of the season, the Millersville women's basketball team returned to the style of play that made Mary Fleig's program one of the most successful in Division II over the last 25 years. Defense and rebounding ruled the day for the Marauders as they slowed the PSAC's top-ranked offense in Kutztown for a 68-54 win in Pucillo Gymnasium Tuesday night. 

The Golden Bears (4-2, 2-2 PSAC) had scored 97 points in their last outing but the Marauders (3-3, 1-3 PSAC) limited them to 39 percent shooting including 8-of-29 (.276) in the second half and just seven total points in the fourth quarter. Kutztown managed only three 3-point makes and went 0-for-4 in the second half. Millersville dominated the glass, outrebounding the visitors by a 51-28 margin. Millersville's 21 offensive boards led to 17 second chance points. Yasmin Cooper entered the game as the PSAC leader in offensive rebounding and built upon her 5.4 per game average with seven more offensive rebounds and 14 total boards. She has averaged 16.7 rebounds in her last three games against Kutztown.

Pucillo Gymnasium continued to be friendly to the Marauders and unkind to the Golden Bears. Millersville improved to 3-0 on the season and 32-5 against the Golden Bears all-time at home. Kutztown and Millersville traded the lead four times and stood tied five times in a back-and-forth two-and-a-half quarters. The tide turned in favor of the Marauders with 7:27 left in the third when Aunjel Van Brakle connected for two of her 16 points. Millersville ripped off four consecutive buckets in the next three minutes to build a 48-39 advantage. Kutztown managed to draw within 57-51 with 4:37 left in the final quarter, but Millersville's defense held Kutztown to just one made field goal on its next six attempts. The offense took advantage of a desperate Kutztown club trying to stop the clock. The Marauders hit 10-of-11 free throws down the stretch including their final nine.

Shelby Reimer led the offense with 17 points, hitting 3-of-4 3-pointers for her fifth consecutive game in double figures and her fourth game with at least three threes. Reimer shot 5-of-6 from the field and 2-of-2 from three in the first half. Van Brakle pitched in her first career double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds. It was her third consecutive double-digit scoring effort and fourth of the season. Cooper's double-double was her fourth of the season.

Millersville is halfway through a four-game home stand. It resumes Friday against Seton Hill at 5:30 p.m.