MANSFIELD – Tianna Jackson scored a team-high 14 points to give Mansfield its first ever win over Gannon in a 57-50 PSAC crossover thriller Saturday afternoon at First Citizens Community Bank Court at Decker Gymnasium.
 
It was the first win for the Mountaineers in nine series games against Gannon who joined the PSAC in 2008.
 
The game featured a showdown between Mansfield first-year head coach Michael Whitling and his former boss in Gannon head coach Jim Brunelli. Whitling coached under Brunelli for three seasons at Gannon after serving in the same capacity at Anderson (S.C.) for three seasons. Assistant coach Kelley Sundberg played a season for Brunelli at Gannon and also helped the Golden Knights to three NCAA Tournament berths and an NCAA Atlantic Region title in 2013.
 
"We played much more consistently today and hit some big shots in key moments in the game," explained Whitling. "This was a great win for the program and for the Mansfield community."
 
Both teams struggled to knock down shots through the opening minutes of the game with Mansfield (4-13, 2-11 PSAC) and Gannon (4-15, 4-9 PSAC) going a combined 1-18 from the floor through the first six minutes. The Golden Knights took an early 8-1 lead before Mansfield finally landed its first field goal on a Macaiah Battle 3-pointer at the 1:30 mark. Brielle Kelly and Mary Kate Rumbaugh each knocked down a pair of free throws to close within two points at 10-8 at the end of the first quarter.
 
A Rumbaugh lay-up opened the second quarter before Kelly hit two more free throws to give the Mountaineers their first lead of the game. Minutes later, a Melanie Taylor trifecta gave Mansfield a 20-15 lead. The Mounties took a 20-17 lead into halftime.
 
Gannon began the second half by scoring four straight points to retake the lead, but a Jackson trey put the Mountaineers back in front. Mansfield went up by five points once again at 30-25, but the Knights used a 13-4 run to close out the third quarter and hold a 38-34 advantage.
 
Jackson hit another 3-pointer to open the fourth to cut the deficit to one point. Bella Ricci gave the Mounties the lead once again with her lay-up with just under seven minutes to play and two Kelly free throws later extended it to three points. However, Haley Tewes evened the score with a trifecta of her own. After trading buckets, a Rumbaugh 3-pointer gave Mansfield the lead for the final time as the Mountaineers would hold on for the historic win.
 
Jackson, who missed Wednesday's game due to injury, scored 11 of her team-high 14 points in the second half. Kelly was clutch from the free throw line, hitting 10-of-12 shots along with a field goal to net 12 points while pulling down eight rebounds. Rumbaugh scored 10 points and Alyssa Mullins recorded a team-best nine boards.
 
Chelsea Rourke led Gannon with 15 points with Maggie Mitchell adding 10 points. Lanise Saunders had a game-high 10 rebounds.
 
The Mountaineers held a 36-33 rebounding advantage in the game. Mansfield's seven 3-pointers matched its season high.
 
Mansfield hits the road on Wednesday for a PSAC East contest at East Stroudsburg.