Release Date: 2/25/04

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: MANSFIELD KEEPS PSAC EAST PLAY-OFF HOPES ALIVE WITH 61-46 VICTORY OVER EAST STROUDSBURG – SENIOR JESSICA PFEIFFER BECOMES NINTH PLAYER IN SCHOOL HISTORY TO SCORE 1,000 POINTS

EAST STROUDSBURG- Mansfield University kept its PSAC East playoff hopes alive  with a key 61-46 victory over East Stroudsburg University Wednesday night at Koehler Fieldhouse.

It was a record setting night for the Mountaineers with senior Jessica Pfeiffer (Erie/Seneca) scoring her 1,000 career point while the team set a new school record for wins in a season and tied the school mark for conference victories in a season.

“We knew going in we had to win the last two games to make the playoffs,” said head coach Ruth Hermansen. “It might have been our best team effort of the season. Everyone was involved and everyone contributed.”

In a must win situation, the Mountaineers used balanced team effort in the first half. Mansfield jumped out to a 26-13 lead when junior Stephanie Rieser (Barnegat, NJ/Southern Regional) scored on a lay-up with 8:07 to play in the first half. At intermission Mansfield had a 31-19 advantage.

In the second half Pfeiffer scored her 1,000 career point by draining a three-point basket with 15:46 remaining to give Mansfield a 41-26 lead.  She finished with 11 points giving her exactly 1,000 points in her career and making her the ninth Mountaineer to reach that milestone.

“Jessica has really been one of the keys to our success ever since she stepped on campus,” said Hermansen. “It was gratifying to me and her teammates to see her get that 1,000 point. As good as she is as a player, she is an even better person.”

Mansfield increased their lead to as much as 20 points after sophomore Danna Purnell (Deer Park/Deer Park) hit a three pointer with 10:58 to play in the game.

Sophomore Alison Tagliaferri (Linden/Jersey Shore) finished with a team high 12 points and nine rebounds.  Senior Rachel Rieder (Cranberry Township/Seneca Valley) added nine points and eight rebounds.

The Mountaineers held on to their double digit lead as they went on to win 61-46 as they improved to 14-15 overall  and 5-6 in the PSAC East.

Mansfield will face another must win situation Saturday when they travel to West Chester to take on the Golden Rams. After a Kutztown loss to West Chester Wednesday night, a Mountaineer victory over West Chester guarantees them a spot in the PSAC East play-offs for the first time in school history.