RELEASE DATE: 1/24/04

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: MOUNTIES RALLY TO BEAT CHEYNEY 82-80 IN LAST MINUTE – REISER SCORES GAME’S FINAL THREE POINTS -- PFEIFFER SCORED 21 -- TAGLIAFERRI AND RIESER RECORD DOUBLE-DOUBLES

MANSFIELD – Jessica Pfeiffer had a season high 21 points and Stephanie Rieser scored the final three points of the game as Mansfield University rallied from a 10-point halftime deficit to pull out a 82-80 win over Cheyney University in a PSAC East contest Saturday afternoon at Cope Hall.

“You look at the stat sheet and you wonder how we won,” said head coach Ruth Hermansen. “But in the end, different players made great plays at key times in the game. Alison Tagliaferri takes a charge in the last minute of play. Steph Reiser hits the shot to put us ahead, Danna Purnell makes a great pass, Rachel Reider, who was sick the whole game, pulls down a key rebound, Jes Uhrich plays like a senior and Jessica Pfeiffer gives a consistent scoring effort.”

In a game of runs, the Mountaineers jumped out to a 17-12 lead in the first six minutes of the game before Cheyney went on a 19-0 run before taking a 43-33 lead into intermission.

Pfeiffer scored 13 points in the first half with Alison Tagliaferri adding 10 to account of 23 of Mansfield 33 first half points.

Cheyney held a 54-43 advantage at the 15:52 mark of the second half before Mansfield went on a 15-3 run over a four minute span to cut the lead to 58-57 on a free throw by Danna Purnell with 12:07 to play.

Cheyney would rebuild its lead to as much as five points before the Mountaineers finally got on top 72-70 on a layup by Tagliaferri with 5:09 to play.

From there out the lead changed eight times with three ties before Rieser hit a layup with :38 remaining to give Mansfield a 81-80 and made a free throw 15 second later to seal the win.

In addition to Pfeiffer’s game high 21 points, Tagliaferri had a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds. Rieser also recorded a double-double with 15 points and 11 boards while freshman Jessica Uhrich chipped in with 12 points.

Ashley Green scored 21 points for Cheyney (4-13, 0-4).

Mansfield improves to 10-11 overall and 2-2 in the PSAC East.