LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – Lock Haven (0-1) led in the fourth quarter but couldn't overcome a late-game run from visiting Kutztown as the Bald Eagles women's basketball team was upended by a 71-61 score in the season opener on Tuesday night.

Three players were in double figures for the Bald Eagles, but Kutztown (1-0) was efficient from the floor shooting at a 49.1% clip in surging back late to hand The Haven an early season setback.



The Golden Bears went into halftime up 41-29 behind 18-of-29 shooting in the opening 20 minutes of action before the Bald Eagles made their push in the third quarter.

Lock Haven cut a 16-point deficit to 49-48 on Erin Miller's 3-pointer at the buzzer before Lacey Kriebel put Lock Haven ahead 50-49 early in the fourth with a layup.

Kutztown answered with a 12-4 run to take a 61-54 lead with three and change to play. Lock Haven got to within five points on three occasions late in the contest, the last time on Kriebel's 3-pointer with 37 seconds left.

The Bald Eagles were forced to foul in the waning moments of the contest and Kutztown went 10-of-13 from the line in the final stanza to ride away with a 71-61 victory.

Kriebel finished with 11 points and three treys, while Sydney Lear chipped in 11 points to lead the Bald Eagles offensively. Rhlyn Rouse added 10 and Miller scored nine points in 15 minutes of action.

Kutztown's Ariana Smuda finished with 15 points and 11 rebounds, five of them on the offensive glass.

Up Next:
Lock Haven is back in action on Friday afternoon when it does battle with Fairmont State in the opening game of the Atlantic Region Crossover. Tip-off is set for 2 p.m.