Box Score

EAST STROUDSBURG – Senior guard Imani Brown poured in a career-high 35 points, including eight in extra time, as East Stroudsburg University overcame a seven-point deficit in the fourth quarter to pull out an 83-79 overtime victory over Mansfield at Koehler Fieldhouse on Saturday.

Junior guard Ann McKnight sank two clutch free throws in the final second to extend the game beyond regulation, and Brown hit 3 of 5 shot attempts in OT to secure the win for the Warriors (7-3, 5-1 PSAC), who were playing in their first game since December 9.

Brielle Kelly matched Brown with 35 points for the Mountaineers (3-9, 1-5 PSAC), as she hit 14 of 27 field goal attempts and 7 of 9 shots from the free throw line. Opening tip-off was delayed for three hours after Mansfield's bus was caught in an accident during its trip to East Stroudsburg.

Sophomore guard Sadie Cresswell added a career-high 15 points on 5 of 8 shooting from 3-point range for ESU, while freshman forward Marlene Bassett chipped in 11 rebounds and three blocks.

The Mounties opened up a 32-23 advantage with 2:51 left in the first half, but two 3-pointers from Brown ignited a 13-4 run by the home side to level up the score at 36-36 heading into the intermission.

ESU retook the lead on another Brown 3-pointer and a layup from sophomore guard Jordan Hertz to begin the second half, but Mansfield scored 14 of the game's next 16 points to grab a 50-43 advantage with 2:51 left in the third quarter.

The lead remained seven at 56-49 in the opening minute of the fourth. The Warriors then used a 9-2 run to tie the score once again, and neither side led by more than three points for the remainder of the quarter.

Kelly gave the visitors a 72-70 lead with seven seconds left in regulation. After an ESU timeout, McKnight forced a foul just inside the 3-point arc, and she hit both of the ensuing free throws to force overtime.

Brown scored eight of the Warriors' 11 points in extra time, including a go-ahead layup with 39 seconds left which put the home side ahead for good at 81-79. Brown has now scored 20+ points in 7 of 10 games on the year. Her previous scoring high was a 31-point effort against nationally-ranked California on Dec. 3.

Brown also added eight rebounds, five assists and five steals in the win. She is averaging 22.5 points per game this season.

ESU extended its win streak over Mansfield to 11 games and maintained a two-game lead over West Chester in the PSAC East standings. The Warriors will remain at Koehler Fieldhouse for a 6 p.m. matchup against Shippensburg on Wednesday night.

Notes:

Brown now has 948 points at ESU, moving her within 52 points of becoming the 16th player in program history to reach 1,000 for her career.

Freshman forward Kaitlyn Swint made her season debut and totaled two points, two blocks and a steal in seven minutes off the bench.

Cresswell has now reached double figures in four games this season. Her previous career-high was a 14-point effort in a win over Clarion back in November.