February 16, 2005

Bloomsburg Downs Mansfield Behind 23 points from Rothermel

GAME STATS

BLOOMSBURG—Meggi Rothermel (Minersville/Nativity BVM) scored a game-high 23 points to lead the Bloomsburg University women's basketball team to a 66-54 win over Mansfield University Wednesday night in women's basketball action.

The Huskies led from start to finish in the game, except for one brief tie at 2-2. Jamie Kauczka (Kingston/Wyoming Valley West) led the way early for the Huskies with five of the team's first 13 points. Later with Bloomsburg leading 16-11 at the 9:34 mark, Rothermel hit back-to-back shots, one a three-pointer to give the Huskies a 10-point lead at 21-11.

Mansfield rallied and got within a point at 23-22 on a jumper by Christine Ross with 2:51 to play in the half. Michelle Albanese (Wilmington, DE/St. Mark's) for Bloomsburg though hit a three-pointer to push the lead back to four points, a lead the Huskies would take to the locker room.

Leading 31-27 at the break, the Huskies opened the second half with an 8-2 run to take its second 10-point lead of the night at 39-29. Mansfield rallied again and closed the gap to six a 44-38 on a pair of free throws from Alison Tagliaaferri with 14:51 to play.

Albanese, though, hit a bucket and Gabe Miskinis (Lewistown/Lewistown) a pair of free throws for another 10-point lead, 48-38 with 12:42 left in the game.

Mansfield's Laura Scardino then scored six points and Tagliaferri two in an 8-1 rally to close the gap to just three, 49-46, at the 8:56 mark. That would be as close as the Mountaineers would get, however.

Bloomsburg would add to its lead and later stretched it to nine points on a Rothermel three-pointer Then with less a minute to play the Huskies got their biggest lead of the night, 12 points, on a pair of free throws from Kelly Burkhart (Sayre/Athens).

Rothermel finished with 23 points and tied her career-high with 10 rebounds. Kauczka finished with 13 points, while Miskinis chipped with a dozen.

Mansfield, 7-15, 2-7 in the PSAC East, was led by 18 points from Scordino and 15 from Tagliaferri.

Bloomsburg, 12-9, 6-4 in the PSAC East, will return to action on Saturday visiting Pitt-Johnstown at 2 p.m.