Box Score
Jasmine Harper led Pitt-Johnstown with 15 points along with six rebounds, but the team could not overcome an early Slippery Rock University offensive onslaught as the Lady Cats lost 69-55 in PSAC West Division action Wednesday at the Morrow Fieldhouse in Slippery Rock.
 
As of Wednesday night's performance, Harper ranks 23^rd on the Lady Cat All-Time Scoring list with 1,175 points and 13^th on the all-time rebounding list with 707 boards.
 
Olivia Rizzo also added 13 points, four rebounds and four assists as Pitt-Johnstown falls to 7-12 overall and 4-9 in conference play.
 
Slippery Rock started the game with a 12-0 lead that was built in the first 6:40 of the opening quarter. The run was highlighted by two three-pointers and a layup from the game's leading scorer, Ciara Patterson.
 
The Lady Cats answered 17 seconds later with the team's first points of the game coming from a three-pointer from Agnese Aramina off of an assist from Nicole Corcoran. Aramina finished the game with three points, four rebounds and two blocks in 15 minutes while Corcoran produced nine points.
 
Pitt-Johnstown cut the lead to nine points with a layup from Laural O'Barto with 1:28 remaining in the quarter as The Rock went into the second period with a 16-7 lead. O'Barto finished the game with four points and four rebounds.
 
Slippery Rock opened the quarter scoring nine of the first 11 points that gave them a 25-9 advantage with 7:13 remaining until halftime.It took almost five minutes for the next basket to be scored when Patterson made a layup for her 10^th point of the game to put The Rock ahead, 27-9 with 2:36 left in the half.
 
After Rizzo drained a three-pointer nine seconds after Patterson's layup, Slippery Rock went on a 4-0 run to end the half, going into the break leading, 31-12.
 
To open the third quarter, O'Barto made a jumper for the second half's first points with 1:10 ticked off the clock. Two straight layups from Harper cut The Rock's lead to 38-26 with 3:39 in the period, but Slippery Rock was able to close the quarter strong scoring the last six points within the last minute to give them a 48-30 advantage heading into the last period.
 
A three-pointer from Erica Aiello in the first minute of the fourth quarter gave Slippery Rock a 21-point lead. Before the five minute mark, The Rock's lead was no lower than 17 points, but baskets from beyond the arc from UPJ's Dominique Smith along with Corcoran with 4:49 remaining in the game cut the home team's lead to 15 points as the Lady Cats trailed, 59-44.
 
An eight-point Slippery Rock run that was capped off by two straight layups from Patterson gave The Rock a 67-44 lead with 2:34 left in the game and also helped secure the victory.
 
Both teams had times of struggled shooting, but it was turnovers that did the Lady Cats in, losing the battle, 20-12.
 
Patterson recorded a game-high 19 points as Slippery Rock moved to 9-9 overall and 6-7 in conference play with the win.
 
The Lady Cats are to return home for a two-game homestand. The team is to host Clarion University Saturday at 1 p.m. and Seton Hill University Jan. 30 at 1 p.m. Both games are a part of doubleheaders with the Mountain Cats.