FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Fitzpatrick Hits 1,000 Career Points in 88-61 Win over Penn State Brandywine
 
MANSFIELD, Pa. – Katie Fitzpatrick became the 16^th player in program history to hit the 1,000 point milestone on her way to recording a game-high 31 points to lead Mansfield past visiting Penn State Brandywine Saturday afternoon.
 
Fitzpatrick's lay-up with 3:18 to play in the third quarter gave the senior 23 points for the night and over the 1,000 point threshold. She also matched her own Mansfield single-game record set last season at Mercyhurst with 11 steals and was one rebound shy of becoming just the second player in program history to record a triple-double.
 
Brandywine held an early lead, but back-to-back lay-ups by Brielle Kelly and Mary Kate Rumbaugh put Mansfield ahead 11-7 at the 5:11 mark in the first. The game was tied at 11-11 with 3:48 to play in the quarter before the Mounties went on an 8-0 run. Mansfield led 21-15 at the end of the first quarter.
 
The Mountaineers opened the second quarter outscoring Brandywine 19-3 over the first four-and-a-half minutes to jump out to a big lead. Mansfield would hold its largest lead of the game going into halftime at 48-25.
 
In the second half, Brandywine started chipping away at its deficit late in the third quarter, scoring seven straight points to close within 11. Mansfield would end the third holding a 64-49 lead.
 
The Lions went on a big run in the fourth, outscoring MU 10-2 to close within single digits at 70-61 for the first time since early in the second quarter. However, that would light a fire underneath the Mounties who held Brandywine scoreless for the final seven minutes of the game while scoring 18 points themselves.
 
Fitzpatrick went 13-20 from the floor and a perfect 5-5 from the free throw line to score a season-high 31 points. It was the second highest single-game total for Fitzpatrick in her career. The senior currently leads the PSAC in scoring, averaging 22.8 points a game. She also grabbed a game-high nine boards.
 
Becky Evans totaled 13 points and six assists for the Mounties. Melanie Taylor added 10 points.
 
Melanie Kempf led Brandywine with 12 points while Jessy Gledhill chipped in 11.
 
Mansfield forced 24 turnovers in the game.

Mansfield is off to its best start since the 2012-13 season which opened with a 3-2 record through the first five games.
 
The Mountaineers travel to rival Lock Haven on Tuesday.