Box Score
Nicole Carman scored a game-high 19 points and the Lady Cats outscored Slippery Rock University by 16 over the final 11 minutes to break open a tie game in a 76-60 road, PSAC Western Division victory over the Rock on Saturday. Pitt-Johnstown snapped a two game losing streak and improved to 8-14 overall and 5-7 in conference-play.
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After falling behind by three early, Pitt-Johnstown used seven first-half 3-pointers and balanced scoring to build a nine-point halftime advantage.
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Consecutive 3-pointers from
Kayla DeCriscio, Carman, and
Kelsey Sleighter put the Lady Cats up by 10, before a bucket in the paint from
Inaya Stephenson at 11:10 gave Pitt-Johnstown its largest lead of the first half at 25-13.
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Slippery Rock narrowed the gap to six on a Megan Hardiman's lay-up four minutes later, but five straight points, including a basket from
Jasmine Harper, rebuilt the Lady Cat lead to 30-19 with 6:45 remaining.
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The Rock answered again. This time to cut it to 32-27 on Erica Aiella's bucket, but two more points from Harper and a 3-pointer from
Leah Hansen helped Pitt-Johnstown take a 42-33 lead into the halftime break.
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Slippery Rock outscored the Lady Cats 16-7 over the first 9:09 of the second half to pull to knot it at 49 on a D'Asia Chambers jumper.
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However, five points from Harper and a pair of 3-pointers from Hansen extended the lady Cat lead back to nine with just under eight minutes to play.
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Pitt-Johnstown never let The Rock get closer than seven pulled away for the 16-point win.
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Rachel Johnson is in 19
th-place on the Lady Cat All-Time Rebounding List with 573, while Carman ranks 29
th on the rebounding list with 456.
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Carman's 19 points and eight rebounds led four Lady Cats who scored in double figures. Hansen scored 15 points, including four 3-pointers, while harper had 14 points and six rebounds, and Sleighter finished with 11 points. DeCriscio added nine points and four rebounds in the victory.
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Pitt-Johnstown shot 41.5% (27-65) from the field, 11-29 from 3-point range, and 11-13 from the free-throw line. Slippery Rock was held to just 32.8% (21-64) shooting and just 4-9 from behind the 3-point line. The Rock was also 14-22 from the charity stripe.
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Chambers' 16 points and six rebounds and Jazmyne Frost's 12 points and eight rebounds paced the Rock, now 4-18 overall and 1-11 in the PSAC West.
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The Lady Cats host a PSAC doubleheader with the Mountain Cats against Seton Hill on Saturday, starting at 1 p.m. at the Sports Center, before traveling to California (PA) for another conference game on February 19.