RELEASE DATE: 12/16/05

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: MERCYHURST RALLIES FOR 68-61 WIN – TAGLIAFERRI AND UHRICH HIT DOUBLE FIGURES FOR MOUNTIES

ERIE – Mercyhurst connected on 21-of-27 free throws, including 16-of-21 in the second half, to rally from a halftime deficit in defeating Mansfield 68-61 in a non-conference women’s basketball game at the Mercyhurst Athletic Center Friday evening.

Playing its first game in twelve days, the Mountaineers led by as much as 31-24 on a layup by Alison Tagliaferri with just over a minute to play in the first half. Tagliaferri would score 9 of her 13 points in the first half.

Mansfield held a seven point lead over the first five minutes of the second half, but the Mountaineers would score just two points over the next eight minute span with Mercyhurst rallying for a 50-41 lead at the 7:25 mark.

Mercyhurst would increase the lead to as much as 12 points before Mansfield cut it to 66-61 on a 3-pointer by Mallory Hafer with eight seconds remaining.

Tagliaferri just missed a double-double with 13 points and nine rebounds. Jessica Uhrich added 11 points while Alicia Espigh, Tiffany Taylor and Becky Ayers – playing in her first game of the season – each had nine points.

Stephanie Prischak led four Mercyhurst players in double figures with 15 points, including 9-of-10 shooting from the free throw line. Cassia Seth and Mary Clare Harlan each scored 11 points.

Mansfield falls to 4-3 overall while Mercyhurst improves to 3-7.

Mansfield will host nationally ranked Californina (PA) on Tuesday evening at Decker Gymnasium.

Newspaper Box   Mansfield vs Mercyhurst

12/16/05 7:00 PM at Erie, Pa. - Mercyhurst Athletic Center

At Erie, Pa. - Mercyhurst Athletic Center

MERCYHURST 68, MANSFIELD 61

MANSFIELD (4-3)

TAGLIAFERRI, Alison 5-10 3-9 13; UHRICH, Jessica 5-11 0-0 11; AYERS, Becky

3-5 3-3 9; TAYLOR, Tiffany 4-9 0-0 9; ESPIGH, Alicia 4-9 0-0 9; BROOKS,

Courtney 3-8 0-0 7; HAFER, Mallory 1-1 0-0 3; ROSS, Christine 0-1 0-0 0;

AKINS, Emily 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 25-55 6-12 61.

MERCYHURST (3-7)

Stephanie Prischak 3-12 9-10 15; Cassie Seth 4-8 3-3 11; Mary Clare Harlan

3-7 5-5 11; Erin Solada 5-10 0-0 10; Katlyn Petit 3-9 2-4 9; Samantha Solada

2-2 2-3 6; Jena Schafer 2-6 0-0 4; Priscila Nascimento 1-6 0-0 2; Erica

Elliott 0-1 0-2 0. Totals 23-61 21-27 68.

Mansfield.....................   31   30  -   61

Mercyhurst....................   26   42  -   68

3-point goals-Mansfield 5-14 (ESPIGH, Alicia 1-3; TAYLOR, Tiffany 1-3;

UHRICH, Jessica 1-3; HAFER, Mallory 1-1; BROOKS, Courtney 1-3; AYERS, Becky

0-1), Mercyhurst 1-14 (Katlyn Petit 1-6; Cassie Seth 0-1; Mary Clare Harlan

0-1; Jena Schafer 0-3; Priscila Nascimento 0-1; Stephanie Prischak 0-2).

Fouled out--Mansfield-UHRICH, Jessica, Mercyhurst-None. Rebounds-Mansfield

31 (TAGLIAFERRI, Alison 9), Mercyhurst 43 (Cassie Seth 9). Assists-Mansfield

16 (TAYLOR, Tiffany 5), Mercyhurst 13 (Mary Clare Harlan 3). Total

fouls-Mansfield 22, Mercyhurst 15. A-200