ABOUT THE MARAUDERS
• Millersville has caught fire over the last three weeks, winning five of its last six and four of its last five at home. The Marauders are currently tied for fourth place in the PSAC East standings with Lock Haven. They are coming off a 63-58 win against Bloomsburg who entered the game in first place. Millersville will once against face a first-place team at home in Kutztown who, thanks to help from the Marauders, are now tied with the Huskies at the top of the standings after a 90-58 win against Mansfield.
• Bloomsburg entered the game with the third-best defense in the conference, allowing 61 points per game. The Marauders will face another tough test against the Kutztown defense which is allowing 63.6 points per game, fourth-best in the PSAC.
• Millersville has won six of the last 10 games against Kutztown and have dominated the Golden Bears at home over the last decade and a half. The Marauders have won 19 of the last 20 meetings in Pucillo Gymnasium dating back to 2002. Kutztown won the previous matchup earlier this season on Jan. 21 but have not swept Millersville in a season series since the 1997-98 campaign.Â
• The Marauders have had a higher shooting percentage than their opponent in five of their last six games. Millersville is currently ranked fourth in the PSAC in shooting percentage (42.7 percent) and seventh in 3-point percentage (31 percent).
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Lauren Lister, who currently ranks 11th in Division II with 22.3 points per game, is on pace for the highest scoring average in a season in program history. Karen Armold currently holds that distinction with 20.1 points per game during the 1988-89 season. The reigning PSAC East Athlete of the Week has been particularly hot as of late, averaging 27.3 points and a 55.8 shooting percentage over her last six games. Prior to that stretch, Lister scored just 22 points over two games, her lowest total during a two-game span this season. The sophomore is also just 109 points away from 1,000 in her collegiate career.
• The Marauders have had fewer turnovers than their opponent in six of their last eight games. Millersville is ranked eighth in the conference in turnover margin with a 1.08 mark.
SERIES AT A GLANCE
Series vs. Kutztown 59-24
Series Streak: Kutztown, 1
First Meeting: 1975-76 (W, 69-55)
Last Meeting: 2019 (L, 63-78)
Mary Fleig vs. Kutztown: 43-17
Janet Malouf vs. Millersville: 14-38
SCOUTING THE GOLDEN BEARS
• Since defeating Millersville on Jan. 21, the Golden Bears have won seven of their last eight games and have scored at least 90 points in three of those games, including their last two. Kutztown did have the fortune of playing just two of those eight games on the road; the Golden Bears are just 5-6 away from "The Den" this season.
• Kutztown boasts the fifth-best scoring margin in the PSAC, outscoring its opponents 67.6-63.6. The Golden Bears have been dangerous from beyond the arch and at the free throw line; they are fifth in the conference in 3-point percentage (32.4 percent) and tied for third in free throw percentage (74.8 percent). Kutztown's Achilles' heel has been its rebounding, the Golden Bears are dead last in the PSAC with 33.8 rebounds per game.
• Rylee Derr has been the key to Kutztown's offense, leading the team and ranked 11th in the conference in points per game (17), tied for 12th in rebounds per game (7) and eighth in 3-point percentage (32.9 percent). Karen Lapkiewicz is second on the team with 11.3 points per game, while Kalee Fuegel is eighth in the PSAC with 2.2 steals per game.
THE LAST MEETING: Kutztown 78, Millersville 63 (Jan. 21, 2019)
• The game was tied 42-42 with 3:19 remaining in the third quarter, but the Golden Bears went on a 15-2 the rest of the period and the Marauders were unable to overcome the deficit. The biggest difference came on the boards; Kutztown held a 44-20 edge in rebounds. A bright spot for Millersville was
Olivia Mottern who set new careers highs in points (23), field goals made (8) and 3-pointers (6). Her 66.7 shooting percentage (8-for-12) also marked a career high.
Samantha Brusha and
Courtney Dimoff also scored in double figures with 13 and 10 points, respectively.
Lauren Lister was held to a season-low seven points, while Karen Lapkiewicz scored a team-high 20 for Kutztown.Â
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