MANSFIELD, Pa. - The Bloomsburg women's basketball suffered a last-second defeat on the road Wednesday afternoon to Mansfield, 62-60.

With a mudded day on the offensive end, the Mountaineers (9-12, 5-10 PSAC) made good on their last offensive possession with a turnaround jump shot that banked off the glass and in for the win. The Huskies (14-8, 8-7 PSAC) had one final chance off the inbound pass with 1.2 seconds remaining on the clock, but a contact play near the rim played out to the final whistle.

Katie Starr (Berwick, Pa./Berwick) took on several roles in the contest, including leading the game in scoring. The senior finished with her fifth double-double of the season, collecting 20 points and matching a season-best 12 rebounds. The forward tacked on three blocks and two steals to her defensive numbers. Alison Hatajik (Duncansville, Pa./Hollidaysburg) was the lone other Husky to finish in double figures, scoring 12 points and grabbing four rebounds and three steals. Ella Kale (Spring Grove, Pa./Spring Grove) came up one basket short of a double-double, collecting 10 rebounds with eight points and four assists.

How It Happened: 
Bloomsburg got off to a sluggish start in the midweek clash, facing an early 10-point deficit at 17-7 with under three minutes to play in the first quarter. The Huskies woke up with an aggressive approach at the basket as Starr, Kale, and Ava Stevenson (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Trinity) were rewarded for their efforts. Starr capped off a 10-0 run in the quarter with a layup on Bloomsburg's final offensive possession of the quarter to trail 17-15 through 10 minutes.

The Huskies' defense in the second quarter allowed the team to rest and build upon individual possessions before taking their first lead of the contest. Kalleigh Nerone (Pittsburgh, Pa./Highlands) made a difficult layup through contact to tie the game up for Bloomsburg, setting up Leah Kale (Spring Grove, Pa./Spring Grove) to give the Huskies their first lead at the 7:02 mark of the second. After Mansfield reclaimed the lead, Bloomsburg returned to the paint, with Hatajik and Maddison Maynard (Lansford, Pa./Panther Valley) going for back-to-back baskets to force another lead change. The duo managed seven consecutive points for the Huskies to grant the team a four-point edge with two-and-a-half minutes in the half. 

Starr and Hatajik's efforts in the paint continued to provide life for Bloomsburg's offensive hopes, but a relentless end-of-half game plan from the Mountaineers allowed the home side to keep it with a two-possession game at 30-26 after one half of action. 

The third quarter mirrored the results of the first, as Mansfield managed to work out in front again for the lead. Hatajik was the lone consistent presence through the opening minutes of the second half, netting six consecutive points for the Huskies before the Mountaineers eventually reclaimed the advantage. An off-shooting night kept Bloomsburg out of rhythm, allowing Mansfield to pull out in front by as many as five. Two trips to the free throw line from Starr allowed the Huskies to keep the game within one possession at 44-43 with one quarter left to play. 

The two sides traded several baskets in the opening minutes before the Mountaineers once again found a five-point cushion at 50-45. The hole grew following a series of errant passes that allowed Mansfield to run in transition in the open court, leading to a quick four points. 

Starr and the Kale sisters looked to have righted the ship for Bloomsburg at the five-minute mark as the trio rallied to get the Huskies back out in front. E. Kale took the reins in a 90-second stretch, putting away six consecutive points for a 56-52 lead with less than four minutes in the quarter. 

Bloomsburg would lose that newfound offensive momentum, as the Mountaineers took advantage of two trips to the free throw line and a late close out for a 6-0 run and a 58-56 advantage. Needing a basket, the Huskies turned to Starr on the offensive end to tie the game at 60-60. 

After a turnover by Mansfield, Bloomsburg looked to return to the post and Starr. Before an attempt at the basket, an offensive foul call with less than a minute on the clock took the ball out of the Huskies' hands and gave the Mountaineers a shot at the lead. The ensuing three-pointer for Mansfield rattled off the front of the rim, with the subsequent series leading to a lot of contact and no whistle. The Mountaineers recovered the loose ball with a clear path to the basket for the lead. 

Bloomsburg did not back down while trailing and attacked the rim again, this time as L. Kale created an open path to the rim to tie the game at 60-60. In a game that played down to the final possessions, Mansfield emerged and took advantage of the favorable bounces to come away with the victory. 

Numbers of Note: 
44 & 15 - The Huskies' ability to play back into Wednesday's game could be attributed to the work on the glass. Bloomsburg finished with a 44-38 edge in the rebounding department while winning the battle in second-chance points, 15-10. 

22 - Turnovers have caused turmoil at unfortunate points this season for the Huskies, and Wednesday was one of the moments. Bloomsburg finished the game with 20 attributed turnovers, leading to 22 points off of those turnovers for the Mountaineers. 

On The Horizon:
Bloomsburg finishes its short road stint on Saturday, February 8, at 1:00 p.m. with a matchup against Shepherd.