MANSFIELD, Pa. – Looking to complete an emphatic Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division comeback, the Mansfield Mountaineer women's basketball team's (8-10, 4-8 PSAC East) blocked off West Chester's (8-10, 5-6 PSAC East) attempt to create a double digit comeback over the Mounties, who claimed the 77-72 victory on Wednesday (Jan. 22) night.

Katie Sheeler led the Mounties in scoring with 24 points with 15 from behind the arc.

Paris Anthony followed behind her contributing 15 points and Kenedy Stroup reached her career high of 14 points. 

The Mounties opened up their first quarter with a Cydney Stanton jumper and an Anthony lay-in to put up four easy points early.

Stroup made an early contribution, dropping seven early points off the bench to give Mansfield the 12-8 advantage.

The Mountaineers went on an 11-5 run to end the first quarter as the host held the 22-13 edge after the opening quarter.

Three-point range was unlocked for Mansfield, nailing six in the second quarter to build a sizable cushion.

Scoring 11 of the first 13 points, the red and black broke out to a 33-15 start in the second quarter.

Ten three pointers marked the first half sprint for Mansfield as the 47-28 highlighted the scoreboard. 

WCU gained some ground in the third quarter. After looking down a 57-34 deficit, including six from Sheeler, the Golden Rams finished out with a 14-2 run to spark a possible comeback in the final ten minutes with the Mountie lead cut to 59-48.

The Golden Rams did the unthinkable in just three and a half minutes with the first 11 points to tie the contest at 59. 

Back and forth lead changes occurred for the next minutes the Mounties reached a five-point lead at 69-64 with under two minutes remaining.

Three free throws led to a 69-67 lead with 1:18 remaining before Stanton knocked down two free throws with 57 seconds left to bring the score to 71-67.

After two Fulford free throws to make it 73-69, WCU used an and-one to move it to a one point game with 30 seconds left. 

Mansfield remained focused and sank four more free throws in crunch time to come out with the crucial 77-72 Eastern Division victory. 

UP NEXT:
The Mountaineers will finish out the first half of the Eastern Division schedule with a visit to East Stroudsburg on Saturday (Jan. 25). Tip-off is scheduled for 1 p.m.