FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Division I Columbia Holds off Mounties 74-60 in Exhibition
 
NEW YORK – Katie Fitzpatrick and Becky Evans each scored 14 points to lead Mansfield offensively, but Division I Columbia held off the Mountaineer's late surge to earn a 74-60 victory Friday night at Levien Gymnasium.
 
The Mountaineers cut a Columbia 18-point lead in the third quarter down to just five points with three minutes to play in the fourth quarter. Mansfield brought it down to a two possession game again with just over a minute to play in the game, trailing 66-60, but was unable to pull off the comeback win.
 
An opening bucket by Evans gave Mansfield the early lead which was held for the first two-and-a-half minutes of play. The Lions took over the lead on a Camille Zimmerman lay-up and slowly pulled away to build a 23-10 advantage with 1:21 to play in the half. The Lions would lead 23-12 at the first break.
 
In the second quarter, Columbia would continue to grow its lead to 17 points before heading into the locker rooms with a 43-27 advantage.
 
Columbia opened the second half with a lay-up to hold its biggest lead of the game at 18 points, but Mansfield worked its deficit down to 12 points capped by a pair of Mary Kate Rumbaugh free throws. The Mountaineers ended the quarter on a 7-0 run to trail 55-47.
 
In the fourth quarter, Mansfield pulled within five points twice, but was unable to close the gap.
 
Fitzpatrick went 5-of-11 from the floor with four free throws while Evans connected on four field goals, including a pair of treys, and four free throws to lead Mansfield offensively. Freshman Princella McCullough was impressive in the paint in her collegiate debut recording 10 points and seven rebounds.
 
Melanie Taylor added eight points and Rumbaugh chipped in seven while grabbing a game-high nine boards.
 
Tori Oliver led four lions in double figure scoring with a game-high 16 points.
 
Turnovers hurt Mansfield who totaled 28 in the game with Columbia scoring 24 points off giveaways.
 
The Mountaineers open the 2015 regular season on Nov. 18 when they welcome Millersville to Decker Gymnasium.