Tagliaferri hits winning field goal with 2.1 seconds left to lead Mountaineers over Millersville 64-61

MANSFIELD – Senior Alison Tagliaferri hit a layup with 2.1 seconds left to go to break a 61-61 tie and lead Mansfield to a 64-61 victory over Millersville in the Mountaineers’ PSAC East opener.

The win snapped a 30 game losing streak to the Marauders. Mansfield’s last win over Millersville came in a 60-53 decision at Decker Gymnasium Feb. 10, 1990.

“It wasn’t a designed play. Jess (Uhrich) and I had been working well all night on the high-low,” said Tagliaferr, who also recorded a double-double on the night. “She got the ball into me and the ball went in.”

Tagliaferri also drew a foul on the play and hit her free throw to put Mansfield up by three. Millersville ten in-bounded the ball, but the desperation shot from well beyond mid-court missed the mark.

Early on, it did not look like the Mountaineers would snag the historic victory. Mansfield committed 17 first half turnovers and were down as much as 15 points at the 18:43 mark of the second half. The turnovers allowed Millersville to take 17 more first half shots than Mansfield.

The Mountaineers refused to give up, though, and came out of the locker room to play inspired basketball.

“We didn’t do anything really special during halftime, but we did shake the line up a little bit in the second half and that seemed to help a whole lot,” head coach Ruth Hermansen said. “The bench kept us in it both offensively and defensively and that put us in a position to win.”

Mallory Hafer came off the bench and hit a three pointer at the 15 minute mark of the second half. Hafer’s only points of the night sparked a 14-4 Mountaineer run that narrowed Millersville’s lead to two with 7:45 left to play.

Millersville continued to lead most the rest of the way, but the Mountaineer defense held the Marauders scoreless through the last 2:51 of the game. Mansfield poured in nine unanswered points, including five by Tagliaferri, to seal the win. Alicia Espigh, who had nine points, hit a two point shot to tie the game at 61. Millersville missed their next shot and Tagliaferri pulled down the defensive rebound with 25 seconds to go. She would later finish the three point play to give Mansfield the win.

Tagliaferri ended the game with 22 points and ten rebounds while Uhrich contributed 17 points and pulled down nine rebounds. In addition to Hafer’s efforts, the Mountaineers got help off the bench from Courtney Brooks (six points and four steals), Emily Atkins (five points and five rebounds), and Brittany Reed (two points and two rebounds).

Mansfield improves to 6-9 overall and 1-0 in conference play. The Mountaineers will continue their campaign when they travel to West Chester on Saturday.  

Newspaper Box Score

Millersville University vs Mansfield University

1/18/06 5:30 pm at Decker Gymnasium

Millersville University.......   34   27  -   61

Mansfield University..........   22   42  -   64

MANSFIELD UNIVERSITY 64, MILLERSVILLE UNIVERSITY 61

MILLERSVILLE UNIVERSITY (6-11 0-2)

MARSHALL, Danielle 9-17 1-1 21; ROMANOSKI, Ashley 3-7 6-6 12; HOWARD, NaTasha 5-12 0-0 10; LIPPY, Branden 2-10 0-0 6; REHM, Jamika 2-5 0-0 4; BAILEY, Jayeneca 0-3 4-5 4; COVER, Kari 0-3 2-3 2; ST. JULIEN, Gladine 1-1 0-1 2; QUINTON, Gaelan 0-7 0-0 0. Totals 22-65 13-16 61.

MANSFIELD UNIVERSITY (6-9 1-0)

TAGLIAFERRI, Alison 8-13 6-8 22; UHRICH, Jessica 6-10 4-6 17; ESPIGH, Alicia 4-7 0-0 9; BROOKS, Courtney 2-4 2-4 6; AKINS, Emily 1-1 3-5 5; HAFER, Mallory 1-3 0-0 3; TAYLOR, Tiffany 0-2 0-0 0; AYERS, Becky 0-3 0-0 0. Totals 22-43 17-25 64.

3-point goals-Millersville University 4-14 (MARSHALL, Danielle 2-5; LIPPY, Branden 2-5; HOWARD, NaTasha 0-2; BAILEY, Jayeneca 0-1; QUINTON, Gaelan 0-1), Mansfield University 3-9 (ESPIGH, Alicia 1-4; HAFER, Mallory 1-2; UHRICH, Jessica 1-1; TAYLOR, Tiffany 0-1; AYERS, Becky 0-1). Fouled out--Millersville University-None, Mansfield University-None.

Rebounds-Millersville University 31 (HOWARD, NaTasha 7), Mansfield University 43 (TAGLIAFERRI, Alison 10). Assists-Millersville University 14 (BAILEY, Jayeneca 6), Mansfield University 14 (TAYLOR, Tiffany 5). Total fouls-Millersville University 22, Mansfield University 14.

First Mansfield win over Millersville in 30 games between the two teams.

The last time Mansfield defeated Millersville was Feb. 10 1990.