Box Score
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Katie Fitzpatrick Scores Game-High 20 Points but Mansfield Second Half Rally Falls Short in 63-56 Setback at East Stroudsburg

EAST STROUDSBURG – Mansfield's Katie Fitzpatrick scored a game-high 20 points and recorded a double-double, but East Stroudsburg scored the final eight points of the game to pull out a 63-56 win in the PSAC East opener for both teams Wednesday night.

Mansfield, which trailed by as many as 23 points shortly before the end of the halftime, turned around a horrible first half performance with excellent defensive play, forcing five straight turnovers resulting in 10 points over the first five minutes of the second half.

Mansfield cut the lead to 45-39 on a Fitzpatrick layup off another ESU turnover and used an 8-2 run over the next six minutes to tie the game at 47-47 on a layup by Bridget Carney with 9:15 to play.

A minute later, the Mountaineers took their first lead of the evening at 50-49 on a pair of Fitzpatrick free throws and extended their advantage to 52-49 on another Carney layup with 7:07 remaining.

East Stroudsburg retook the lead at 53-52 on a jumper by Andrea Veres just over a minute later with Mansfield jumping back into the lead, taking a 55-53 advantage, on a Katie Yale jumper with just over four minutes to play.

Mansfield still held the lead when Jessica Martin scored on a layup at the 2:01 mark for a 57-56 East Stroudsburg lead. The Warriors won the game by hitting six free throws over the final 44 seconds and kept the ball out of Mansfield's hands by pulling down six rebounds and recording two steals over that span.

Mansfield shot just 21% from the floor in the first half but connected on 50% of its attempts over the final 20 minutes.

Fitzpatrick recorded her first double-double of the season and second of her career by pulling down a game and career-high 13 boards. She also dished out four assists. Junior Alyssa DeRichie was one of the Mountaineers few offensive bright spot early in the game, scoring eight of her 11 points in the first half. Sophomore Katie Yale added a season-best 10 points, hitting all four of her shots from the floor.

Martin led East Stroudsburg with 19 points with Andrea Veres coming off the bench to add 10 points.

Mansfield returns to Decker Gymnasium Saturday for another PSAC East matchup against West Chester.