Release Date: 2/18/04

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: MANSFIELD FALLS SHORT TO BLOOMSBURG 73-68

MANSFIELD- Mansfield University came back from a 12 point first half deficit, however Bloomsburg University held on to outlast the Mountaineers 73-68 in a key PSAC East match up Wednesday night at Decker Gymnasium.

The Mountaineers had an early 17-14 lead when junior Danna Purnell (Deer Park, NY/Deer Park) scored on a lay-up with 12:16 remaining in the first half.  Minutes later the Huskies’ Kelly Burkhart drained a three pointer to tie the game at 17-17. 

Both teams continued to exchange baskets until Bloomsburg went on a 12-2 run capped off by a Steph Weikel lay-up with 3:51 remaining until intermission for a 33-23 lead.  The Huskies extended the lead to 43-31 entering the locker rooms.

In the second half Bloomsburg held on to their double digit lead well into the half, however Mansfield began chipping away at the Huskies lead cutting it down to 58-52 on a Jessica Pfeiffer (Erie/Seneca) jumper with 10:04 to play.

Later in the half Pfeiffer struck again -- this time draining a three-point basket with 4:59 remaining in regulation to cut the Bloomsburg lead to 65-63. Pfeiffer finished the game with 14 points to bring her within 11 points of the 1,000 career point milestone.  She now has 989.

Mansfield had opportunities to tie the game late into the contest, but could not convert over the final three minutes of the game.

Sophomore Alison Tagliaferri (Linden/Jersey Shore) finished with a team high 16 points becoming the 11^th Mountaineer to score 900 career points. She now has 904 career points.  Freshman Jessica Uhrich (Palmyra/Palmyra) added 14 points off the bench for Mansfield while Rachel Rieder added 11.

With the loss, Mansfield is now 13-15 overall and 4-6 in the PSAC East.  Bloomsburg improves to 6-4 in the PSAC East standings.

Despite the loss, Mansfield is still in the hunt for their first ever PSAC playoff bid.  Kutztown, 4-5 in conference play after suffering a loss to East Stroudsburg Wednesday night, has three games remaining to the Mountaineers two. 

Mansfield has a bye this Saturday before traveling to East Stroudsburg on Feb. 25.