RELEASE DATE: 11/06/08

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Mansfield women’s and men’s basketball teams travel to St. Bonaventure Friday for preseason exhibition games – games carried live on WNTE 89.5 FM and internet

MANSFIELD – The Mansfield University women’s and men’s basketball teams will get a jump start on the upcoming 2009-09 season when they travel to NCAA Division I St. Bonaventure University Friday for a pair of exhibition games.

The women’s tip-off is set for 5 p.m. with the men scheduled to go at 7 p.m. Both games will be broadcast live on WNTE 89.5 FM and on streamed on the internet at www.GoMounties.com

The Mountaineer women’s are led by returning seniors Emily and Katie Akins (Elmira,NY/Southside), Courtney Brooks (Harrisburg/Susquehanna Valley), Clarissa Correll (Mansfield/Mansfield), and Alicia Espigh (Lewistown/Lewistown). Mallory Hafer (Sayre/Athens) is a junior red-shirt after missing most of last season.

Tegan Atallah (Reading,MA/Reading Memorial) is the only sophomore on the 15-player roster.

A large freshman class includes Mallory and Meredith Hafer (Sayre/Athens), Emma Lacey (Catasauqua/Catasauqua), Katie McBroom (Derry/Derry), Mallory Moore (Beech Creek/Central Mountain), Nicole Pender (Elkins Park/Cheltenham), Rebecca Pollack (McKees Rocks/Moon) and Chelsea Tracy (Sayre/Sayre).

The women will open their regular season at the Bloomsburg Classic against C.W. Post on Nove. 15.

The Mountaineer men’s team returns three starters from last season including point guard Chris Greene (Rochester,NY/Greece Arcadia). A large junior class includes Cory Boone (Howard/Blad Eagle), Ryan Callahan (Contoocook,NH/Wagner), Dhimitri Luarasi (Henrietta,NY/Rush-Henrietta), Lavail Owens (Blue Bell/Wissahicken), Chris Pender (Elkins Park/Cheltenham), Justin Simmons (Willow Grove/Millersville),  and Brandon Smith (Rochester,NY/Ben Franklin).

Yuseff Carr (New York/East NY Transit Tech) heads the sophomore class along eith Duane Oluwadare (Kent,UK/Felician).

J.P. Nance (Mansfield/Mansfield) is a red-shirt freshman as is Kevin Smith (Philadelphia/Friends Central). Donny Lyons is a sophomore transfer (Brooklyn,NYBlinn College).

Tony Fannick (Milton/Milton) is the only freshman.

The Mountaineers open the regular season at home this coming Saturday against Seton Hill.