RELEASE DATE: 1/02/09

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Mountaineer women’s basketball opens New Year with road trip to Edinboro and Lock Haven this weekend – Sunday’s game to be streamed live at GoMountie.com

MANSFIELD – The road-weary Mansfield University women’s basketball team will play its first games in 2009 during a two-day road trip to PSAC West foes Edinboro and Lock Haven this Saturday and Sunday.

Sunday’s game at Lock Haven will be broadcast will be streamed live at GoMounties.com by ESPN 1050/104.1 in Williamsport.

The Mountaineers have not played since a trip to the University of the District of Columbia on Dec. 20.

The women (3-5), who faced #3 Alaska-Anchorage and UDC in their last three games, will face yet another tough road test at Edinboro and Lock Haven.  

The Mountaineers have struggled offensively during their first eight games of the season averaging 59.5 points per game and have been held to under 50 points in each of their last three games. Mansfield ranks last in the 16 team PSAC in team shooting percentage (34%).

Freshman Mallory Moore leads the team in scoring (9.9 ppg) and rebounding (6.4 rpg) with senior guard Courtney Brooks averaging 8.4 points per outing. She also leads the team in assists (23) and steals (27). Junior Mallory Hafer is averaging 8.1 points per game with a team-best 12 three-point field goals. Senior Clarissa Correll is averaging 7.4 points per game.

Edinboro is 5-4 on the year after suffering a 81-76 New Year’s Eve loss at Wayne State. The Fighting Scots rank among the top five scoring teams in the PSAC (77.1 ppg) but are last in the conference in points allowed (76.4 ppg).

A well-balanced offense includes four players; Samantha Reimer (21.4 ppg), Kelsey Conklin (19.8 ppg), Renee’ Brown (13.2 ppg) and Micki Cerchiaro (10.2 ppg).

Lock Haven is 3-6 on the year after dropping a 76-58 decision Tuesday night. The Bald Eagles are averaging 73.2 points per game while giving up 70.4 points. Lauren Kelshaw tops the team in scoring averaging 14.2 points per game followed by Peaches Nesmith (10.0 ppg).

Mansfield will return home for just the second time all season when the Mountaineers host UDC on Wednesday evening starting at 3 p.m.