RELEASE DATE: 2/28/03

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: MANSFIELD ATHLETIC TEAMS FACE HUGE WEEKEND – MEN’S AND WOMEN’S BASKETBALL VIE FOR PSAC PLAYOFF SPOT – CHARITY LEARN HOPES TO BECOME FIRST WOMEN’S PSAC TRACK CHAMPION – BASEBALL AND SOFTBALL OPEN SEASONS

MANSFIELD – It just may be the biggest weekend in Mansfield University athletics history.

For the first time in school history, the Mountaineer men’s and women’s team have a shot to make the PSAC playoffs by winning their last regular season game of the year when they host West Chester University Saturday afternoon at Decker Gymnasium.

The MU women’s basketball team is 11-14 on the season and 5-6 in the PSAC East. They trail Kutztown University for the fourth and final playoff in the PSAC East. A Mountaineer win over front running West Chester, and a Kutztown loss to second place Millersville, would give the women’s program their first every PSAC playoff appearance. It also marks Senior Day with seniors Allyson Buss and Lynelle Mosley being honored in ceremonies prior to the 1 p.m. game tip-off. It marks the first time two 1,000-point career scorers are graduating in the same year.

The Mountaineer men hope to earn their first trip the PSAC playoffs with a win over West Chester. Mansfield is currently in fourth place in the PSAC East with a 5-6 record. They lead Cheyney, which plays at East Stroudsburg Friday night, by one game. A Mountaineer win over West Chester or a Cheyney loss would give Mansfield the fourth seed. It also marks Senior Day for the men’s team with seniors Jason Clayton and Jason Mattern being honored in pregame ceremonies.

The men and women’s track and field teams travel to East Stroudsburg for the PSAC Indoor Championships and are expecting the post their best finish in school history. Freshman sensation Charity Learn (Mansfield/North Penn) will attempt to become the first female athlete to win a PSAC Championship in track when she runs the 3,000, 5,000 meters and mile run. Learn is the top seed in the 3,000 and mile and is second seed in the 5000.

The Mountaineer baseball team opens its season Friday night at Ft. Myers, FL when they host Missouri-St. Louis. Mansfield, the 26th ranked team in the nation, will play 14 games during their Florida stay.

The softball team opens its season when they travel to North Carolina Central on Saturday. The team will then continue on to Pensacola, FL for seven games.