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EAST STROUDSBURG – Junior forward Jessica Martin had 19 points, eight rebounds and four blocked shots and East Stroudsburg University scored the final eight points, surviving a huge comeback by Mansfield for a 63-56 win in the PSAC East women's basketball opener for both schools on Wednesday night at Koehler Fieldhouse.

Senior guard Andrea Veres scored 10 points and freshman forward Allison Howard added six points and 12 rebounds for ESU (1-1, 1-0), which led 43-20 with 1:36 left in the first half and 43-27 at halftime before Mansfield (0-3, 0-1) stormed back.

Martin's four blocks give her 10 through two games, and 147 in her career, tied for 23rd in PSAC history and second in ESU's record book.

Katie Fitzpatrick led Mansfield with 20 points and 13 rebounds, and gave the Mounties their first lead of the game (50-49) with a three-point play with 8:04 left.

The Warriors trailed 56-55 with 3:18 remaining but blanked Mansfield down the stretch. An offensive rebound and putback by Martin at the end of the shot clock gave ESU the lead for good with 2:01 left, then she hit one-of-two free throws and sophomore guard Helena Gemmell grabbed the offensive rebound as the Warriors led 58-56 with 44 seconds to play.

Junior guard Ryann Fiascki missed a pair at the line but Martin gathered the offensive board. A foul at midcourt led to a technical foul on Mansfield head coach Allison Tagliaferri, and Howard knocked down both free throws for a 60-56 lead. Sophomore guard Melissa Poderis made one-of-two, then Gemmell had a steal on Mansfield's next possession to put the game out of reach.

ESU used a 17-2 run to get breathing room in the first half. The Warriors led 15-10 with 12:13 showing – then shot 6-for-9 from the field and 4-for-5 at the foul line over the next six minutes to lead 32-12.

ESU's largest lead of the first half was 23 points (43-20) on a layup by Fiascki with 1:36 left in the period, but Mansfield chipped away with six straight to close the half.

After the break, Mansfield scored the first eight points to pull within 43-35, the continued its push to tie the game at 47-47 with 9:15 remaining, culminating a 27-4 run.

The Mounties took their first lead on a three-point play by Fitzpatrick at the 8:04 mark, and went ahead 52-49 two possessions later.

The Warriors responded with baskets on back-to-back possessions, a layup by Fiascki and jumper by Veres, to go back in front by one. Alyssa DeRichie tied it with a free throw and Katie Yale knocked down a jumper to make it 55-53 Mansfield with 4:15 remaining.

Fiascki knotted the game at 55-all with two free throws with 3:47 to play, and Jena Matter made one-of-two for Mansfield's final points with 3:18 left.

From there, it was all ESU – forcing turnovers on four of the Mounties' final five possessions, and grabbing six offensive rebounds to keep their own trips alive.

Martin cleaned up a missed three with a pair of offensive boards and finally a putback to give ESU a 57-56 lead, and Howard and Poderis got the Warriors an extra possession before Martin went to the line with 44 seconds left as ESU prevailed down the stretch.

Martin had 13 points, 13 rebounds and six blocks and Howard had 12 points and 13 rebounds in his first career game on Saturday, a 66-57 loss to No. 11-ranked Holy Family.

Through two games, Martin is averaging 16.0 points and 10.5 rebounds, with Howard at 9.0 points and 12.5 rebounds per game.

ESU, coming off its first PSAC Tournament appearance since 2008 last winter, will look for a 2-0 start in PSAC East play with a trip to Kutztown on Saturday. The Golden Bears were the only PSAC East school not to play a divisional game on Wednesday night, leveling their record at 2-2 with a 52-50 win over USciences.