RELEASE DATE: 11/03/05

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: MANSFIELD MEN PICKED TO FINISH FOURTH IN PSAC EAST – WOMEN PICKED SIXTH IN PRESEASON COACHES POLL – CARLOS COLLAZO AND ALISON TAGLIAFERRI NAMED PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE

LOCK HAVEN – The Mansfield University men were picked to finish fourth while the Mountaineer women were tabbed for sixth place in the PSAC East Men’s and Women’s Preseason Basketball Coaches Poll released today.

Mountaineers Carlos Collazo and Alison Tagliaferri were also preseason All-PSAC East picks.

The men stunned the PSAC East last season by winning the division championship after being picked to finish fourth with a 10-2 division mark and 18-11 overall record. It marked the third straight season they advanced to the PSAC playoffs.

The women tied for fifth in the PSAC East last season with a 4-8 conference record on their way to an overall 9-16 mark.

Collazo was a Second Team All-PSAC East selection last year as a junior averaging 12.1 points and 5.8 rebounds per game. He ranked 7^th in the PSAC in field goal percentage (56.3) and 10^th in blocked shots (27).

Tagliaferri was named a Preseason All-PSAC East selection for a conference record fourth time. The senior, who sat out almost all of her sophomore season, receiving a medical redshirt, ranked 6^th in the PSAC in scoring (16.0 ppg), 7^th in blocked shots (32) and 15^th in rebounding( 7.2 rpg) earning a school record third All-PSAC East First Team selection.

PSAC East Men’s Preseason Poll                     PSAC East Women’s Preseason Poll

1. West Chester                                                1. West Chester
2. East Stroudsburg                                           2. Millersville
3. Millersville                                                      3. Bloomsburg
4. Mansfield                                                       4. Kutztown
5. Kutztown                                                       5. Cheyney
6. Cheyney                                                        6. Mansfield
7. Bloomsburg                                                   7. East Stroudsburg