KUTZTOWN, Pa. – Rylee Derr of the Kutztown University women’s basketball team added the cherry on top of an historic week for the KU program, as she was recognized as the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) East Division Athlete of the Week.
Derr averaged 19.5 points per game (ppg) in a 2-0 week last week that helped the Golden Bears (17-11 overall, 14-6 PSAC) win a share of the PSAC East crown and the top overall seed in this week’s PSAC Tournament. They won a program-record 14th conference game, and have won 11 straight games at Keystone Arena, a setting that, if they keep winning, will not have to leave until a potential NCAA Tournament run.
It is the second AOW honor for Derr this season and third overall PSAC recognition of her career after winning East Freshman of the Week on Jan. 22, 2018.
Last week, Derr scored a game-high 24 points, going 7-for-11 from the field overall, 4-for-6 from three and 6-of-6 at the free-throw line, while also adding seven rebounds in a win at East Stroudsburg (Feb. 27). She then tallied 15 points, four rebounds, four assists and two steals in a victory over Lock Haven last Saturday, March 2, to help clinch a share of the title.
The Warwick native has scored 884 points throughout her career thus far. Her 475 points scored this season is third-most in program history. Derr has connected on 80 three-pointers this season, second in the PSAC, and 166 in her career, which ranks fourth all-time at KU. Derr’s 17.0 ppg ranks 12th in the PSAC.
The Maroon and Gold as a team set a new program-record for made three-pointers in a season with 224, accomplished in the win over the Bald Eagles Saturday.
Kutztown is in wait and see mode as it will host the PSAC Quarterfinal on Wednesday, March 6, against the winner of the four seed Lock Haven and fifth seed East Stroudsburg matchup. It will be a 7 p.m. tip-off.
