FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Mounties Battle with Mercyhurst, but Fall 61-58
 
MANSFIELD – Tianna Jackson's potential game-tying 3-pointer as time expired came up just short as Mansfield fell in a 61-58 battle to Mercyhurst Sunday afternoon in PSAC crossover play.
 
Brielle Kelly scored a game-high 23 points for Mansfield and Katie Fitzpatrick notched a double-double with 13 points and 12 rebounds. Fitzpatrick now sits at 1,108 career points and is just three shy of surpassing Hall of Famer Lynelle Mosely (2000-04) for ninth on the Mountaineer all-time list.
 
The game opened with a pair of lead changes before Mercyhurst held a seven point lead at the halfway mark. The Lakers led by as many as 11 points and ended the quarter with an 18-9 advantage.
 
In the second quarter, the Mountaineers trailed 23-13 before going on a 9-0 run to close within just one point. However, Mercyhurst used a 10-0 run of their own to jump out to a 33-22 lead. The Lakers went into halftime leading 35-26.
 
Fitzpatrick opened the second half with a 3-pointer to spur an 11-1 Mountaineer run to again close within a point. Mansfield was unable to take over the lead, but held the Laker advantage to single digits, trailing 48-43 to start the fourth quarter.
 
Back-to-back lay-ups by Fitzpatrick brought Mansfield within one point at 50-49 before the senior hit the back end of two free throws to tie the game. But Mercyhurst used a 9-0 run over the next four minutes to hold a 59-50 lead with 39 seconds remaining. The Mountaineers chipped away at their deficit and trailed by six points with 14 seconds remaining. Fitzpatrick hit another 3-pointer with four seconds to play to trail by three points and fouled Mercyhurst's Adrienne Kloecker. Kloecker missed both free throws and Mansfield secured the rebound. Mansfield got the ball up the court quickly and into the hands of Jackson who had a good look, but the shot came up just short.
 
The Lakers were led by Jalin Steel's 21 points.
 
The Mountaineers outrebounded Mercyhurst 46-34 in the game including 21-12 on the offensive glass.
 
Mansfield travels to Gannon on Wednesday for the final PSAC crossover game of the season.