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EAST STROUDSBURG – Sophomore guard Sadie Cresswell totaled 15 points off the bench, while senior guard Imani Brown and freshman forward Marlene Bassett had 14 points apiece to help East Stroudsburg University to a 69-59 win over Kutztown at Koehler Fieldhouse on Saturday.

The Warriors (11-5, 9-3 PSAC) had a season-high 19 steals while forcing 28 turnovers by the Golden Bears (10-8, 5-7 PSAC). Brown had four of those steals, while freshman Abby Schoffstall and sophomores Jordan Hertz, Tiffany Lapotsky and Dominique Rayam had three each.

Brown and Bassett each had five points in a 10-0 run to begin the game for ESU, and the home side remained in front throughout the contest.

Kutztown used a last-second layup to cut the margin to 15-10 at the end of the first quarter, but a pair of 3-pointers from Cresswell fueled an 8-1 run by the home side to begin the second which restored a double-digit advantage. The lead remained 37-26 in favor of the Warriors heading into the intermission.

Cresswell hit 3 of 6 field goal attempts and 7 of 8 free throws to reach double figures for a sixth time this season (eighth in her ESU career). The Warriors earned 16 additional free throws to help seal Saturday's victory, going 23 for 30 from the line compared to an 11 for 14 output from the visitors.

Kutztown pulled within three points (39-36) after scoring 10 of the first 12 points in the third quarter. After head coach Diane Decker swapped out her entire starting five, a 3-pointer by junior guard Noelle Powell and a jumper by Rayam brought the lead back up to eight points, and the Golden Bears got no closer than six the rest of the way.

With her 14 points, Brown moved up to No. 14 on ESU's all-time scoring list with 1,048 career points, surpassing DeAnna Rayam (2006-10, 1,046 points). She also went 2 for 4 from 3-point range, giving her 125 made 3's for her career. That ties her with Niki Cox (2001-05) for third place in program history.

Today's victory keeps the Warriors within a half-game of West Chester for first place in the PSAC East standings after the Golden Rams (13-4, 10-3 PSAC) edged Shippensburg by an 82-74 final this afternoon. ESU is now four games ahead of third-place Kutztown in the East.

Rylee Derr had a game-high 18 points (6-14 3FG) and eight rebounds for the Golden Bears, while Gabbi Wright added 14 points and six rebounds before fouling out late in the fourth.

ESU's 19 steals were the most in a game since totaling 20 in a double-overtime win over Kutztown on Jan. 25, 2015.

The Warriors return to action Wednesday night at Millersville, with opening tip-off scheduled for 5:30 p.m.