FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Late Surge Lifts Mounties Past Penn State Harrisburg
 
MANSFIELD – Brielle Kelly and Katie Fitzpatrick combined for 40 points as a big second half lifted visiting Mansfield past Penn State Harrisburg 78-60 Tuesday night in non-conference play.
 
The Mountaineers outscored their opponent 49-29 in the second half to overcome a two-point, first-half deficit and improve to 2-2 on the season.
 
Mary Kate Rumbaugh scored the first two baskets for Mansfield to take an early lead which the Mounties maintained for the rest of the quarter. Harrisburg closed within one point twice during the period, including after a Jasmine Yanich 3-pointer at the buzzer to trail 12-11.
 
The Lions opened the second quarter with a pair of lay-ups to take their first lead of the game, but Mansfield quickly answered with field goals by Jessica Crawley and Fitzpatrick to regain the lead. After three lead changes, it was Harrisburg who was on top, taking a 31-29 advantage into halftime.
 
Becky Evans opened the second half with a 3-pointer followed by a Kelly lay-up put Mansfield up 34-31. However, the Lions went on a 6-0 run to take back the lead. Mansfield countered with its own 6-0 run to lead 40-37 and was on top 50-48 at the end of the 3rd.
 
The Mountaineers went on a 14-2 run to open to fourth quarter to put the game out of reach.
 
Kelly scored a game-high 21 points with Fitzpatrick putting up 19 to lead Mansfield offensively. Alyssa Mullins added 13 points and Rumbaugh 10. Fitzpatrick is now just 22 points away from becoming the 16th player in program history to hit the 1,000 point milestone.
 
Princella McCullough recorded a team-best seven rebounds and five steals for MU.
 
Yanich was the only Lion to hit double figures, knocking down five treys on her way to 17 points.
 
Mansfield shot a season-best 51.7% (31-30) from the floor while holding Harrisburg to just 33.3% (19-57) shooting.
 
The Mountaineers host Penn State Brandywine on Saturday at 2p.m. at Decker Gymnasium.