EAST STROUDSBURG – Ann McKnight hit a pair of free throws to force overtime as PSAC East-leading East Stroudsburg went on to triumph 83-79 despite a career-high 35 points from Mansfield's Brielle Kelly on Saturday at Koehler Fieldhouse.
 
Kelly recorded 14 field goals along with 7-of-9 shooting from the free throw line to score a career-best 35. Kelly and ESU's Imani Brown each went for 35 points in the game, which ties for the season high by an individual in the conference this season along with Seton Hill's Cheyenne Trest.
 
East Stroudsburg (7-3, 5-1 PSAC) led by as much as five points in the first quarter before finishing the frame with a 14-11 advantage. In the second quarter, a Melanie Taylor trifecta gave Mansfield (3-9, 1-5 PSAC) its second lead of the game as the Mounties would control the majority of the period. The Mountaineers built their lead up to nine points following another Taylor 3-pointer, but ESU answered with a 13-4 run to close out the half with a 36-36 tie.
 
The Warriors opened the second half with five straight points, but an 8-0 Mansfield run swung the advantage in the other direction. The Mounties finished the quarter with a 54-49 lead.
 
Mansfield led for the majority of the fourth quarter, and held a 68-66 lead with 1:36 to play in the game. Brown hit three straight free throws to give ESU the lead, but Kelly answered with two of her own to regain the advantage for Mansfield at 70-69.
 
Brown's free throw tied the game with 29 seconds remaining, but Kelly scored a lay-up on the opposite end of the court to put the Mounties back on top at 72-70. A Mansfield foul in the finals seconds put McNight on the free throw line with a chance to tie the game.
 
The junior knocked down both attempts to send the game into overtime.
 
East Stroudsburg never trailed in overtime and hung on to avoid the upset.
 
Alyssa Mullins scored 15 points and was just shy of a double-double with nine rebounds. Taylor knocked down three treys on her way to 14 points while adding six boards. Mary Kate Rumbaugh chipped in nine points and five rebounds.
 
Kelly recorded all five steals for MU in the game.
 
Mansfield hosts Lock Haven at Decker Gymnasium on Wednesday, January 3.