SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – The Slippery Rock University women's basketball team battled back from a 14-point first half deficit to beat Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Eastern Division competitor Mansfield University, 69-60, Sunday at Morrow Field House.
 
The crossover contest victory improves The Rock's record to 7-2 overall and 2-1 in the PSAC. SRU is now a perfect 3-0 at Morrow Field House this season and is one home win away from carrying its first 4-0 home record since the 2015-16 season. With the loss, Mansfield falls to 1-6 overall and 0-3 in the conference.
 
Kennedy Middleton led The Rock in scoring with 19 points while falling just short of a double-double after grabbing nine rebounds in addition to tallying three assists, two steals and one block.
 
The trio of Bella Long, Isabellah Middleton and Jada Ward aided Kennedy Middleton offensively as all ended the contest with double-digit points.
 
Isabellah Middleton provided SRU with an 11-point, 10-rebound double-double while also making four steals, one assist and one block. Ward produced career-highs of 12 points and six rebounds while Long tallied 10 points and went 5-of-6 from the foul line.
 
Kaylin Venick chipped in six seven points in addition to tallying four rebounds and one assist. Arianna Mitchell came off the bench to register career-highs of six points, four rebounds, three blocks and one steal. Kelley McKnight and Emily Venick each scored two points while pulling five and four rebounds, respectively.
 
The Rock got off to a slow start to open the first 10 minutes of play registering just 11 points. The Mountaineers used SRU's low scoring and a 15-2 run to take a 12-point advantage (23-11) into the second quarter.
 
Slippery Rock dominated the offensive end of the floor during the second quarter, outscoring Mansfield 19-9 thanks primarily to a 13-1 run at the end of the quarter that cut Mansfield lead to 32-30.
 
A made jump shot by McKnight directly out of the halftime break gave The Rock their first lead of the game and prompted a 14-4 run to extend their advantage to eight points (44-36) with 5:12 remaining in the third quarter.
 
The two teams proceeded to trade baskets for the remainder of the third, with Mansfield chipping away at its deficit, leading to only 52-48 Rock lead entering the final 10 minutes of action.
 
However, Slippery Rock was able to stave off the MU's comeback bid and close out the victory courtesy of a 10-4 run over the final 5:01 minutes in the fourth quarter en route to a 69-60 home win over the Mountaineers.
 
SRU enjoyed its second-best shooting performance of the season at 42.6 percent (29-of-68) from the field thanks to an 18-for-31 showing in the second half. The Rock's solid overall shooting effort came despite a 2-of-12 (.167) effort from 3-point range to go with a 9-of-14 (.643) mark at the foul line.
 
Slippery Rock recorded a season-high 49 rebounds on the way to a commanding +15 margin. The Rock also blocked a season-best six shots while their 12 steals were the second-highest total this season behind only its 16-steal effort earlier in the year at Shepherd.
 
The Mountaineers finished the game shooting 35 percent (21-of-60) overall, 37.9 percent (11-of-29) from long range and 58.3 percent (7-of-12) at the free throw line. After making 54.5 percent of its 3-point attempts in the first half, SRU held Mansfield to 5-of-18 from long range over the last two quarters.
 
Jasmine Hilton led the Mountaineers with 16 points, seven rebounds, two assists, two steals and one block.
 
Slippery Rock finishes out its two-game week with another PSAC crossover contest against Bloomsburg University 1 p.m. Monday at Morrow Field House.









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