RELEASE DATE: 1/14/04

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: MANSFIELD’S TAGLIAFERRI HITS KEY SHOT IN DOUBLE OVERTIME VICTORY OVER KUTZTOWN.

MANSFIELD- Mansfield University’s junior Alison Tagliaferri (Linden/Jersey Shore) hit a key basket while being fouled in double overtime to seal the 82-78 win over Kutztown University, Wednesday night at Decker Gymnasium in the Mountaineers first PSAC East match up of the season.

It was a game won and lost on free throws, which played a key role from the very beginning. In the first half, Kutztown shot 9 for 11 from the free throw line, while Mansfield was just one of four, which helped the Golden Bears take a 29-23 halftime lead.

Throughout the second half, Mansfield began chipping away from Kutztown’s six point half time lead. With 11:00 minutes remaining in the second half, Mansfield’s Rachel Rieder (Cranberry Township/Seneca Valley), who scored a game high 24 points and was just two rebounds shy of her fifth double-double, drained a three point shot to tie the game at 40.

Both teams remained close, as the lead continued changing as both teams sent players to and from the free throw line. Kutztown, who went to the free throw line 11 times in the first half, went to the line nine more times in the second converting on all but two of their free throw shots. Mansfield went to the line 16 times while converting 12.

With Kutztown leading 58-57 with under a minute remaining in regulation, Tagliaferri converted on two free throws to give the Mountaineers a one point lead.

On the next Kutztown possession, Amanda Zinobile, drained a three point shot to give the lead right back to the Golden Bears, 61-59.With just under 10 seconds to play, Tagliaferri, who recorded a double-double with 18 points and a team high 15 rebounds,  hit a lay-up as time expired to send the game into overtime.

In overtime, Mansfield jumped out first, as Jessica Pfeiffer (Erie/Seneca), who had 17 points in the game, scored the teams first five points giving them a 66-62 lead. The Mountaineers led throughout the overtime with: 43 seconds to play, when Kutztown’s Lindsay Wentz was fouled and awarded two free throws.Wentz hit both, giving Kutztown their first lead in overtime 69-68.Mansfield’s Stephanie Rieser (Barnegat,NJ/Southern Regional) responded by converting one of two free throw attempts sending the game into a second overtime period.

The Mountaineers, just like they did in the first overtime period, jumped out first in the second overtime period taking a 75-72 lead halfway through the period. However, Kutztown regained the lead, again off free throws, as Brooke Martin converted on both her shots for a 76-75 lead.

Mansfield would later regain the lead on a lay-up by Rieser who was fouled in the process, was able to convert the three point play giving the Mountaineers a 79-78 lead. Mansfield would then hold on to the lead, as Tagliaferri hit a key lay-up in the games final 18 seconds to secure the 82-78 victory over the Golden Bears.

With the win the Mountaineers improve to 9-9 on the season and 1-0 in PSAC East play, as Kutztown drops to 2-11 and 0-1 in the PSAC East.

Mansfield’s next game is 1 p.m. Sat. when they travel down to Millersville to take on Millersville University.

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