SHEPHERDSTOWN, W. Va. – The Mansfield Mountaineer women's basketball team finished their road trip with the out of state visit to Shepherd (6-19, 3-16 PSAC East) on Wednesday (Feb. 19) night, with the Mounties trying to erase a double-digit deficit, but the Rams earned the 54-49 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division victory.

Danae Ellzy led the team with her season high of 20 points and picked up her season high of four steals. Her final rebound with 20 seconds left capped her first career double-double. 

Katie Sheeler finished with 12 points and also earned three steals on the night. 

Shepherd opened the midweek contest with the five of the first six baskets, cementing an early 11-3 edge midway through the first quarter, using early turnovers in their favor. 

Cydney Stanton, Ellzy, and Minyhah Easterling each sank a bucket for Mansfield (9-16, 5-14 PSAC East), but the Rams ended the first ten minutes from with a splash from beyond the arc for the 16-7 advantage with the teams combining for 13 turnovers in the quarter. 

The Mounties looked to change the pace of the game with two early field goals, but Shepherd reached their first double-digit lead midway in the quarter at 22-12. 

After another pair of baskets from Ellzy and Kristen Fulford, the Rams converted the last six points of the half, to hold the 30-16 command into the locker rooms, with their defense confusing the Mountaineers, limiting them to 21.9% (7-32) from the field and no three-pointers through the contest. 

Mansfield began the final half with seven of the first nine points, causing the Rams to use a timeout and cut the deficit to 32-23.

Trying to start momentum for the red and black, Sheeler dropped five straight points, but a Shepherd sinker from the arc still put the host out in front at 40-29.

Sheeler posted 12 points in the quarter as Mansfield sank three of the final four baskets  to dig into the lead, but the Rams still held a 42-35 advantage heading into the final ten minutes.

Ellzy dominated the opening minutes of the quarter, sinking four points to bring the Mountaineers to within three at 42-39.

Shepherd took note at the comeback attempt and used seven points to cushion their chance of another conference victory, holding the 49-39 edge with 3:50 remaining. 

Ellzy sank five more free throws in her 11-point quarter along with a layup from Kenedy Stroup to claw at the lead, with Mansfield down, 52-46, at the 1:22 mark. 

With 57 seconds left, the Rams added one more insurance bucket, looking to pick up the conference victory.

Ellzy dropped in another layup with half a minute on the clock, but Shepherd held the Mountaineers in control to end the PSAC contest with the 54-49 victory. 

UP NEXT:
The Mountaineers return to Decker Gymnasium for their Senior Day on Saturday (Feb. 22) to face the East Stroudsburg Warriors. This PSAC Eastern Division battle is set to tip-off at 3:00 p.m.