YORK, Pa. – Junior guard Bridgette Mann (Canadensis, Pa./Wallenpaupack) scored her team's final nine points over the last 1:32 to spark The University of Scranton women's basketball team to a 67-63 victory over York (Pa.) on Wednesday night.

With Scranton (6-1) trailing 59-58, Mann scored on a layup and buried a 3-pointer on back-to-back possessions for a 63-59 lead with 1:04 left. She followed that with two free throws with 28 seconds remaining. Her only hiccup came on two missed free throws that allowed York to run off five straight points to get within 65-63 with eight seconds left, but Mann sealed the victory with a pair at the charity stripe with six seconds remaining.

Mann finished the night with a team-high 19 points, including a trio of 3-pointers. She also had five assists, three rebounds and a steal. Sophomore guard Emily Sheehan (Dunmore, Pa./Dunmore) had 12 points, seven rebounds and two assists, and sophomore center Sofia Recupero (Whitestone, N.Y./Saint Francis Prep) had 12 points, six rebounds and two assists.

The Lady Royals raced out to a 25-14 lead after one quarter, but then went cold from the field. They scored just 19 points over the next two quarters and entered the fourth tied at 44. York (6-3) scored first to open the period, but Sheehan hit a free throw and a 3-pointer, and sophomore forward Makenzie Mason (Doylestown, Pa./Central Bucks West) followed with a 3-pointer of her own for a 51-46 lead with 7:32 left.

The Spartans didn't go away, though, using a 10-2 run to take a 58-56 lead with 2:27 remaining and still led 59-58 before Mann finished with a flourish.

Scranton ended the night hitting 42.9 percent (21-for-49) from the field, including 7-for-14 from 3-point range. The Lady Royals made 18 of 27 (66.7 percent) from the free throw line and finished with 18 turnovers.

York shot just 36.2 percent (25-for-69) from the field, including 4-for-14 (28.6 percent) from beyond the arc. The Spartans hit 9 of 12 (75 percent) from the free throw line and won the rebounding battle, 39-37. They also committed 15 turnovers on the night.

The Lady Royals are back in action on Friday night in the opening round of the Hilton Scranton Poinsettia Classic in the Long Center. The opening game features FDU-Florham against Messiah at 6 p.m. Scranton hosts Hartwick in the second game at 8 p.m.

--LADY ROYALS--