You Gotta Believe – Kelly Leads Improving Mountie Women to 53-50 Win over Lock Haven before a Regional TV Audience

LOCK HAVEN – You Gotta Believe!

Freshman Brielle Kelly scored a game-high 21 points, including Mansfield's final nine points of the game, to lead a steadily improving Mansfield to a 53-50 win over Lock Haven before a regional television audience Saturday afternoon in Thomas Field House.

It was a huge win for a young Mountaineer team that had dropped 54-33 decision to Lock Haven two months ago at Decker Gymnasium and was their second PSAC East win in the last three games.

Mansfield trailed 40-33 midway through the second half but rallied behind sophomore point guard Tianna Jackson, who scored seven straight points over a ninety second span to tie the score at 40-40 on a 3-pointer. Katie Fitzpatrick's free throw put Mansfield up 41-40 with just under eight minutes to play.

Mansfield did an incredible job defensively down the stretch holding Lock Haven without a field goal for the final three-and-a-half minutes of the game.

With the game tied 50-50 with under a minute to play, senior Alyssa DeRichie drove the baseline and drew double coverage before finding an open Kelly in front of the basket for an easy layup and 52-50 lead.

Lock Haven missed a shot with 17 seconds left and Kelly, surrounded by four Bald Eagles players, pulled down the critical rebound and was fouled. Kelly hit the first to give Mansfield a 53-50 lead and a 3-pointer by Lock Haven's Emily Daugherty with four seconds remaining was off the mark.

Mansfield played inspired from the start, scoring the first two points of the game on a layup by Kelly and used a 12-0 run midway through the first half, fueled by 3-pointers by Kelly and fellow freshman Melanie Taylor, to take a 22-10 advantage six minutes before the end of the first half.

 Lock Haven rallied but Mansfield still held a 22-18 lead at halftime.

Mansfield, which committed a season-low 11 turnovers, won the game at the free throw line connecting on 15-of-20 attempts.

Kelly, who has scored in double-figures in each of the last four games, scored a season-high 21 points despite being hampered with four fouls for much of the second half. She just missed a double-double with nine rebounds and also had an assist, steal and blocked a shot.

Jackson added 16 points while Katie Fitzpatrick pulled down a game-high 10 rebounds while scoring seven points.

J.J. Hilliard topped Lock Haven with 13 points.

Mansfield will host Shippensburg on Wednesday.