FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Mansfield's First-Half Lead Slips Away in 74-53 Loss at East Stroudsburg
 
EAST STROUDSBURG – Katie Fitzpatrick scored a game-high 23 points, but Mansfield's halftime lead slipped away as East Stroudsburg scored 51 second-half points to claim a 74-53 PSAC East victory Wednesday night at Koehler Fieldhouse.
 
The junior connected on 7-of-13 field goals, including a pair of treys, while also recording a team-high seven rebounds, four steals and three assists. Fitzpatrick's 23 points was her second highest total this season other than a career-best 32 points scored at Shippensburg two games ago.
 
Freshman Brielle Kelly added 11 points before fouling out as the only other Mountie in double-figure scoring. Kelly went a perfect 6-of-6 from the free throw line.
 
East Stroudsburg (7-10, 6-7 PSAC East) was led by Allison Howard's double-double of 21 points and 10 rebounds. Madison Tamburini and Jessica Martin each scored 12 points for the Warriors. Martin recorded five blocks in the win.
 
East Stroudsburg took an early lead, but a Kelly 3-pointer and Fitzpatrick lay-up gave Mansfield a 7-3 advantage just over five minutes into the game. Mansfield (1-16, 0-13 PSAC East) built up to its biggest lead of the game at six points on an Alyssa DeRichie jumper at the 11:37 mark.
 
An 8-2 run by the Warriors tied the game at 13-13, but the Mounties wouldn't allow ESU to take the advantage. Mansfield again held a six-point lead at 26-20 with 2:37 to play in the half before heading into the locker room with a 26-23 lead.
 
ESU opened the second half on a 13-0 run to take a 10-point advantage before jumping out to a 54-34 lead with 11:03 to play in the game. Mansfield brought its deficit down to 13 points at the 7:32 mark but would pull no closer.
 
Mansfield shot just 30.0% (15-50) from the field in the game, but hit 82.6% of free throws. ESU connected on 47.5% (28-59) of shots from the floor in the game including 60.6% (20-33) in the second half.
 
The Mountaineers return home to host West Chester on Saturday for Hooping for a Cure sponsored by First Citizens Community Bank. Free tickets to Saturday's games are available at all Tioga County First Citizens branch locations.