Box Score
Olivia McCabe produced a game-high 21 points and 16 points, but Pitt-Johnstown could not regain the lead they lost in the third quarter and were defeated by Clarion University, 63-51 in PSAC West Division action Saturday Afternoon at the Tippin Gymnasium in Clarion.
 
McCabe performance gave her an eighth double-double this season for the Lady Cats as they drop to 7-20 overall and 4-17 in conference play with the loss.
 
Pitt-Johnstown started the game with a 10-5 lead halfway through the first period after a layup from Laurel O'Barto. Clarion then outscored the Lady Cats, 8-3 in the next three and a half minutes to tie the game at 13 points after a layup from Amesha Harden-Pulliam at 1:34.
 
The Golden Eagles tied the game once again at 15 points and captured the lead when Jordan Bekelja made a pair of free throws after being fouled by Nicole Corcoran with 24 seconds left in the quarter.
 
Pitt-Johnstown had the period's last basket when Rizzo made a layup with 12 seconds left to tie the game at 17 points heading into the second quarter. The Lady Cats started the second quarter with the momentum once again as they went on a 10-0 run to earn a 27-17 by the 5:22 mark until the half. Kayla DeCriscio drained two shots from beyond the arc during the span while Olivia McCabe added two points.
 
Clarion stormed back with a 13-point run of their own in the next four and a half minutes as a three-pointer from Nicole Maxon off of a Pitt-Johnstown turnover capped off the run and gave the Golden Eagles a 30-27 lead with 42 seconds until the break. McCabe made layup 21 seconds to make the halftime score, 30-29 in favor of Clarion.
 
McCabe was able to regain the lead for the Lady Cats with a tip in at the 9:10 third quarter mark. The lead would last for just under two minutes as Tyra Polite hit a jumper for the Golden Eagles to gain a 32-31 advantage, a lead they would keep for the rest of the quarter and ultimately, the game.
 
A layup from Harden-Pulliam with 4:59 left in the period started a 9-2 run for Clarion, which got them out to a 43-35 with 2:39 left in the period. Pitt-Johnstown was able to cut the lead to six points by scoring four of the last six points of the period to trail, 45-39 heading into the final quarter.
 
A pair of free throws from Leah Hansen got the Lady Cats within five points, 46-41 with 9:15 remaining, but that was the closest they got as Clarion outscored Pitt-Johnstown, 17-10 throughout the remainder of the game to secure the victory.
 
Tania Holmes tallied 20 points and nine rebounds for the Golden Eagles, who advance to 9-19 overall and 9-13 in conference play with the win.
 
The Lady Cats are to close out the 2015-16 season with a conference doubleheader with the Mountain Cats against Slippery Rock University on Wednesday at 5:30 and 7:30 p.m. in the Sports Center.