MANSFIELD, Pa. - Danae Ellzy finished with a career-high 21 points to ignite the Mansfield University women's basketball team (2-18, 1-15 PSAC) on a second-half comeback, but second-place West Chester University (15-7, 12-4 PSAC) was able to hold on for a 74-71 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) victory on Saturday afternoon, Feb. 4 inside Decker Gymnasium.

Trailing by three with 10 seconds remaining, Kenedy Stroup stole the ball off the inbound and went coast-to-coast to set up a game-tying 3-pointer, but the shot trickled off the rim as time expired and the Golden Rams held on for the victory.  

Bit by the turnover bug to open the second half, the Mounties dug a 65-55 hole with 9:07 remaining. However, behind the continued scoring outburst by Ellzy, MU outscored the Golden Rams, 12-1 over the next seven minutes to pull within one, 68-67, with 3:18 to go.  

Both teams traded baskets before West Chester extended the lead to three heading into the steal by Stroup. 

Ellzy finished 9-of-16 from the floor, including 5-of-9 from deep, while adding six assists and six rebounds to lead the way for MU. Jasmine Hilton collected another double-double- finishing with 19 points and 10 rebounds, while Alivia Paeglow added eight points and a team-high three steals. 
The Mountaineers had one of their top offensive performances of the season, knocking down 28-of-62 shots (45 percent), with 11 coming from behind the arch. 

The Mounties made five more field goals and six more shots from 3-point land, but West Chester finished 23-of-27 at the charity stripe, while the Mounties attempted just fix foul shots.

In the first half, the Mounties came out of the gates red-hot from 3-point land, drilling 4-of-8 attempts, but the Golden Rams made four more shots at the foul line to lead 21-20 after the first period. Danae Ellzy went 2-of-3 from deep to lead MU.  

The Warriors quickly extended their lead to 26-20 through the opening minute of the second quarter, but Ellzy's third trifecta of the half cut the Mounties' deficit to one score at the nine-minute mark. 

The Mounties remained within two scores over the next seven minutes, before cutting the lead to 37-38 with 1:42 to go. West Chester scored the final bucket of the period to take a 41-39 lead into the break. Ellzy and Hilton each had 13 points in the half. 
 For West Chester, Michelle Kozicki led the way with a 28-point, 15-rebound double-double.

The Mounties travel to Lock Haven University on Monday, Feb. 6 for a 5:30 p.m. PSAC contest.