RELEASE DATE: 1/21/06

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Mounties Stun West Chester 72-65 – First Win at West Chester in 23 Years

West Chester – Freshman Courtney Brooks hit four free throws in the last minute and the Mountaineer defense allowed just one field goal over the final two minutes to stun West Chester 72-65 in a key PSAC East game at Hollinger Fieldhouse Saturday afternoon.

It marked the first Mansfield win at West Chester since the Mountaineers recorded a 79-65 victory on 12/10/83 and moves them into a tie with Kutztown for first place in the PSAC East with a 2-0 mark.

“Altag (Alison Tagliferri) said it best in the locker room after the game when she said this was the proudest moment in her Mansfield career,” said head coach Ruth Hermansen. “I think we all feel the same.”

It looked as if that moment might never occur early in the game as West Chester using a pressure defense forced four turnovers in the Mountaineers first five possession taking a 13-5 lead over the first five minutes of the game.

But the Mountaineers would settle down behind Jessica Uhrich, Alison Tagliaferri and Alicia Espigh who combined for 29 of Mansfield first half points in a 33-31 deficit at halftime.

“We were shooting well and rebounding well so at halftime we just stressed taking care of the ball,” said Henderson who Mountaineers snapped a 30-game losing streak to Millersville three days ago.

The Mountaineers, who had committed 15 first half turnovers, responded turning the ball over just five times in the second half.

West Chester would increase its halftime lead to 40-34 before sophomore sharpshooter Alicia Espigh got hot. Espigh scored the Mountaineers first 11 points in the second half, including three 3-pointers, the last one pulling Mansfield within one point at 43-42 five minutes into the half.

Brittany Reed hit two free throws to tie the score a 50-50 at the 11 minute mark and the game would feature 10 ties or lead changes over the seven minutes before senior Tiffany Taylor would put the Mountaineers up for good at 62-59 on a 3-pointer with 3:50 to play.

“In the last ten minutes of the game, it was the seniors who really stepped up,” said Henderson. “I the most critical time of the game, Altag takes a charge and Tiffany (Taylor) comes up with a couple of key steals and points. We haven’t been shooting free throws well as a team, but Courtney (Brooks) was clutch in the last minute.”

West Chester closed a six point gap to 69-65 when Dominique Lewis hit 2-of-3 free throws with :39 to play.

But Brooks would hit 3-of-4 free throws over the last 33 seconds to seal the win.

The Mountaineers snapped a 10-game losing steak to West Chester dating back to 2000 in improving to 2-0 in the PSAC East for the first time since winning the first three conference games of the 1999-2000 season.

Alicia Espigh and Alison Tagliaferri led four Mountaineers’ in double figures with 18 points each. Espigh hit 5-of-6 3-pointers while Tagliaferri pulled down 10 rebounds. Jessica Uhrich had a monster game, scoring 15 points while pulling down a game high 12 rebounds with six assists, five blocks and two steals. It was her sixth double-double of the season. Tiffany Taylor scored a season high 11 points including nine in the second half. She also had five assists and three steals.

Dominique Lewis led four Golden Rams in double figures with 14 points. Alexis Norman and Catherine Andrews each had 13 points with Elise McCloy adding 11 points.

Mansfield improves to 2-0 in the PSAC East and 7-9 overall while West Chester falls to 2-1 in the conference and 5-13 overall.

Mansfield will travel to Bloomsburg on Wednesday.

Newspaper Box Score

Mansfield University Mounties vs West Chester University

01/21/06 1 p.m. at West Chester, PA

At West Chester, PA

MANSFIELD UNIVERSITY MOUNTIES 72, WEST CHESTER UNIVERSITY 65

MANSFIELD UNIVERSITY MOUNTIES (7-9/2-0 PSAC E.)

TAGLIAFERRI, Alison 6-14 6-6 18; ESPIGH, Alicia 6-8 1-2 18; UHRICH, Jessica 6-14 3-5 15; TAYLOR, Tiffany 5-9 0-0 11; BROOKS, Courtney 0-3 4-5 4; HAFER, Mallory 1-1 0-0 3; REED, Brittany 0-1 2-2 2; EASTMAN, Kelli 0-1 1-2 1.

Totals 24-51 17-22 72.

WEST CHESTER UNIVERSITY (5-13/2-1 PSAC E)

LEWIS, Dominique 6-10 2-3 14; NORMAN, Alexis 4-9 2-4 13; ANDREWS, Catherine5-10 2-2 13; McCLOY, Elise 4-12 2-3 11; DEVEAUX, Dominique 4-12 1-3 9;PFAFF, Justine 1-7 0-0 3; WINTERS, Natalie 1-6 0-0 2; BACHMAN, Casey 0-2 0-0 0; VITZAKOVITCH, Amanda 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 25-70 9-15 65.

Mansfield University Mounties.   31   41  -   72

West Chester University.......   33   32  -   65

3-point goals-Mansfield University Mounties 7-12 (ESPIGH, Alicia 5-6; HAFER,Mallory 1-1; TAYLOR, Tiffany 1-1; BROOKS, Courtney 0-2; UHRICH, Jessica 0-2), West Chester University 6-24 (NORMAN, Alexis 3-6; McCLOY, Elise 1-6;ANDREWS, Catherine 1-5; PFAFF, Justine 1-3; WINTERS, Natalie 0-3; DEVEAUX, Dominique 0-1). Fouled out--Mansfield University Mounties-None, West Chester University-None. Rebounds-Mansfield University Mounties 38 (UHRICH, Jessica

12), West Chester University 43 (LEWIS, Dominique 10). Assists-Mansfield University Mounties 17 (UHRICH, Jessica 6), West Chester University 16(ANDREWS, Catherine 6). Total fouls-Mansfield University Mounties 12, West Chester University 19. A-250

Mansfield's first win in Hollinger Field House since 1983-84 season.