Box Score Ana Hollen posted a career-high 20 points, but it was not enough to overcome Mercyhurst University's defensive performance as the Lady Cats were defeated 60-47 in PSAC West Division play Saturday Afternoon in the Pitt-Johnstown Sports Center.
 
Pitt-Johnstown started the game cold offensively in the first quarter. The period ended with a 15-5 Mercyhurst advantage. Although the Lady Cats were able to outscore the Lakers in the second quarter, 17-13, Mercyhurst played out the second half one step ahead of Pitt-Johnstown, scoring more than the home team in the last two quarters.
 
The loss extends UPJ's losing streak to five games and have now fallen to 6-10 overall and 3-7 in conference play.
 
Jasmine Harper tallied two points and three assists, and remains in 26^th-place in the Lady Cat All-Time Scoring List with 1,143 points and 12^th-place in the Lady Cat All-Time Rebounding List with 688 rebounds.
 
Pitt-Johnstown started the game with a 5-2 lead after Hollen hit a three-point with off of an assist from Rizzo at the 8:32 first quarter mark. In the next 8:53, Mercyhurst took control of the game and captured a lead they would not let go of.
 
The Lakers then went on 15-0 run that carried over into second quarter and was highlighted by a jumper and three-pointer by Angela Heintz and two layups by Natalie Piaggesi to give Mercyhurst a 17-5 lead with 9:39 left in the half.
 
The Lakers maintained a sizable advantage throughout the rest of the half, but the Lady Cats fought back and got themselves within four points by the 3:47 mark when Jamie Tabon made a layup to cap off an 8-0 run to make the score a 26-22 Mercyhurst lead. Those were Tabon's only points of the game but also contributed with four rebounds and a block.
 
The Lakers added a layup from Alex Artise 28 seconds before halftime to stretch the team's lead to 28-22. Artise finished the game with seven points and nine rebounds.
 
Mercyhurst scored the first five of seven points in the second half and their lead was not lower than four points throughout the third quarter. Piaggesi scored the last points of the quarter with two free throws on different appearances at the line within the last two minutes to give the Lakers a 41-33 heading into the final ten minutes of play.
 
The Lady Cats were able to keep the point differential under ten points for most of the last quarter due to big scores from Olivia Rizzo, who finished the game with 11 points, five rebounds and four assists. It wasn't until the 1:14 mark that Mercyhurst put the game away with two free throws from Jalin Steel.
 
Mercyhurst finished out the game scoring eight of the last ten points to give themselves a 13-point victory. Piaggesi lead the team with 16 points and nine rebounds to advance the Lakers to 8-9 overall and 6-5 in PSAC play.
 
The Lady Cats are to finish their three-game homestand against Indiana University (Pa.) Jan. 13 at 5:30 p.m. in a doubleheader with the Mountain Cats. The team is to next travel to Edinboro University Jan. 16 at 1 p.m.