KUTZTOWN, Pa. - The Mansfield Mountaineers women's basketball team (9-11, 6-9 PSAC East) headed to Kutztown University on Saturday afternoon to take on the Golden Bears (12-9, 10-5 PSAC East) in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern division clash.

Jasmine Hilton recorded another double-double, scoring 15 points and grabbing 11 rebounds. 

Danae Ellzy added nine points on 2-5 shooting and 5-6 from the free throw line.

Alivia Paeglow had five points and starred defensively recording two blocks and three steals. 

Once again the Mountaineer offense struggled to find their footing early in the first as the Golden Bears jumped out to an early 10-2 lead before Mansfield could make their first field goal of the game. At the end of the first quarter, Kutztown held a 14-point advantage after Mansfield went 1-15 from the floor and 0-8 from three in the quarter.

The Mountie defense kept themselves in the game as they gave up just four points in the second quarter and cut the Golden Bear lead down to six. Mansfield flipped the script in the second quarter holding Kutztown to 1-14 from the floor and 0-7 from three. 

The Mountaineers were led by Hilton who scored 11 of the team's 16 first-half points. Hilton went 4-6 from the field and 3-3 from the free-throw line. She also had a team-high seven rebounds and three blocks in the first two quarters. 

A quick start in the third quarter saw the Mounties shirk their deficit to five at the 7:56 mark. The score remained 27-22 in favor of the Golden Bears until the 4:11 mark of the third quarter when Kutztown knocked down two free throws. 

Emilie Leidig answered quickly with Mansfield's first three of the game to bring the game within four. Cydney Stanton then matched the Kutztown free throws with two of her own, making it a one-possession game. 

Ellzy got in on the scoring going 2-2 from the free throw line to tie the game at 31-31. At the end of the quarter, it was all square at 33.

Paeglow gave the Mountaineers their first lead since it was 2-0 with a driving layup to open the fourth quarter. 

The game went back and forth for the next six minutes as each team traded baskets. With the game tied at 42 and 2:08 to go, Kutztown grabbed a two-point lead after making a pair of free throws.

With 26 seconds remaining and the Mountaineers trailing by one, Hilton drove right and lost the ball out of bounds. This turnover caused the Mounties to play the foul game and Kutztown calmly stepped to the line and knocked down both to push their lead to 46-43.

Coming out of their timeout, Mansfield got a great look for Leidig at the top of the arc but she couldn't get the three to fall. Following an 0-2 trip at the line for the Golden Bears, Ellzy had one more chance to tie the game with a left-wing three-pointer that hit off the front iron.

The Mounties fought hard but could never get the big shot to fall and drop a close 46-43 battle with Kutztown. 

UP NEXT:

The Mountaineers stay on the road to square off against Commonwealth foe Bloomsburg University on Wednesday, February 7. Tip-off against the Huskies is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.