FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Mounties Come Up Short at Kutztown
 
KUTZTOWN – Katie Fitzpatrick and Brielle Kelly combined for 34 points but Mansfield came up just short in a 72-60 PSAC East loss at Kutztown Wednesday night.
 
Fitzpatrick connected on eight field goals and two free throws for a team-high 18 points while Kelly added 16 points. Both grabbed a team-best seven boards and dished out five assists.
 
At 1,159 career points, Fitzpatrick is now just eight away from passing Kathy Murphy (1992-95) for seventh on the all-time list.
 
Natalya Lee's 19 points paced Kutztown with Jenna Altomare and Kelsey Watson each adding 13 points.
 
The first quarter was a back-and-forth affair that saw five lead changes and a pair of ties. The biggest lead by either team was three points. A 4-0 run to finish the quarter gave the Mountaineers a 15-14 advantage.
 
Mansfield again worked its lead up to three points early in the second quarter. However, after three more ties, Kutztown went on an 8-2 run to end the half and take a 30-24 lead.
 
Kutztown opened the second half by increasing its lead to 12 points and led by double digits for much of the third quarter. But, a late Mansfield run capped by a Kelly 3-pointer brought the Golden Bear's lead back down to six points. Both teams lit it up offensively in the third quarter, scoring 23 points each.
 
A Becky Evans trey and a Kelly lay-up to open the fourth quarter brought Mansfield within one point at 53-52. However, the Bears responded with a 9-0 run to jump out to a 10-point lead. The Mountaineers gradually worked their deficit down to three points at 62-59 with just under two minutes to play, but were unable to close the gap.
 
Mansfield was hampered by 22 turnovers in the game.
 
The Mountaineer's 42.3% shooting percentage was the highest percentage since December 1.
 
Mansfield travels to Millersville on Saturday.