Bloomsburg Falls to Cheyney in Women's Basketball

CHEYNEY, PA —Despite a game-high 21 points from Jamie Kauczka (Kingston/Wyoming Valley West), the Bloomsburg University women's basketball team lost 70-63 to Cheyney University Saturday afternoon in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division play.

Bloomsburg falls to 11-9, 5-4 in the PSAC East, while Cheyney improves to 4-19, 2-7 in the PSAC East.

The home team jumped out to the early 10-7 lead at the 14:07 mark when the Wolves' Ashley Green hit one of two free throws. Cheyney increased its lead to 18-10 with 10 minutes to play on a three-pointer from Kanisha Childress. Bloomsburg chipped away at the lead on back-to-back baskets from Kauczka and a three-pointer from Michelle Albanese (Wilmington, DE/St. Mark's) to close to within three, 20-17, with 8:23 left in the half. Then later, made it a one-point game at 25-24 when Dana Thompson (Pocono Lake, NJ/Allentown, NJ) scored at the 5:24 mark.

Cheyney, though, went on a 10-1 run over the next four minutes, led by five points from Fanta Sissoko, to go up by 10 points, 35-25, before the Huskies closed to within seven at the break, 37-30.

Both teams were cold from the floor in the opening minutes of the second half. After a basket by Kauczka in the first 30 seconds of the second half, the Huskies missed their next nine shots from the floor, while Cheyney started the final 20 minutes 0-4 with five turnovers. The Huskies did convert five free throws in the first five minutes and got back-to-back three's from Albanese and Kelly Burkhart (Sayre/Athens) to take their first lead since the opening moments of the game, 43-42, with 13:09 left in the game. Childress, though, quickly put the Wolves back in front on their next trip down the floor with a three-pointer.

Cheyney stretched the lead to five, 53-48, on a pair of free throws from LaKemia Smith, before the Huskies rallied once again. A layup from Kauczka, a three from Albanese and two free throws from Kauczka tied the game at 55-55 with 5:12 left to play.

But, a Cheyney run of 10-3 gave the home team a lead of seven, 65-58, with 1:59 left. The Huskies did get to within five points, 66-61, with 50 seconds left, but no closer. Down the stretch, the Huskies three-straight three's, while Cheyney hit a couple of free throws and layup for a seven point victory.

Kauczka finished with 21 points and seven rebounds, while Albanese netted 15 with four assists to lead Bloomsburg.

Cheyney got 18 points from Childress, while Smith scored 13 and Ashley Green 12. Fanta Sissoko chipped in with 11 points and a game-high 14 rebounds.

Bloomsburg will host Mansfield on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m.