FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Kutztown Gets Past Mansfield 63-50
 
MANSFIELD – Katie Fitzpatrick and Tianna Jackson paced Mansfield offensively with 12 points each, but visiting Kutztown pulled away in the second half to claim a 63-50 victory Wednesday night at First Citizens Community Bank Court at Decker Gymnasium.
 
Alyssa DeRichie opened the game with a 3-pointer before Fitzpatrick drove the lane for a bucket to put Mansfield (1-18, 0-15 PSAC) up 5-0 early. Kutztown (7-12, 6-9 PSAC) responded by scoring six straight points. Brielle Kelly answered on the other side of the court with a lay-up to reclaim the lead for the Mountaineers at 7-6 with 13:24 to play in the half.
 
Mansfield built its lead up to five points over the next two minutes, then held a 20-13 advantage with 9:11 remaining. Kutztown worked its deficit down to four points, but back-to-back buckets by Becky Evans and McKenzie Hatch put Mansfield up 24-16.
 
The Golden Bears closed out the half on an 8-2 run to knot the game at 26 all heading into the break.
 
Kelly opened the second half with a made free throw put Mansfield back on top. After five lead changes over the next four-and-a-half minutes, the Bears went on a 12-0 run to jump out to the biggest lead of the game thus far.
 
Kutztown led by as many as 20 points before the Mounties worked their deficit down to 11, but the rally was too late.
 
Fitzpatrick and Jackson each hit five field goals in the game to lead MU in scoring. Maria Kelleher hit a pair of treys on her way to eight points. Alyssa Mullins recorded a career-high nine rebounds while DeRichie grabbed eight.
 
Kutztown put two players in double-figure scoring in Elisa Gaffney with 17 and Nicole Donahue with 14.
 
Neither team shot well from the floor with Mansfield going 35.7% (20-56) and Kutztown hitting just 31.8% (21-66). Free throws made the difference with KU hitting 70.4% (19-27) compared to the Mounties' 50% (5-10).
 
Turnovers also hurt Mansfield who totaled 24 in the game.
 
Mansfield travels to Cheyney on Saturday.