Pitt-Johnstown fell behind by 10 in the first quarter, but bounced back with a strong second half to earn a 67-57 non-conference win at Salem (WV) International University, Wednesday evening.
Olivia McCabe had 22 points and a game-high 14 rebounds to record her third straight double-double to begin the season and help Pitt-Johnstown improve to 2-1.
Salem International ran out to a 16-6 lead seven minutes into the game and never trailed the rest of the first half.
Laurel O'Barto's put-back with just under a minute left in the first quarter got Pitt-Johnstown to within three, but the Tigers answered with a late 3-pointer to go in front 20-14.
Pitt-Johnstown battled back in the second quarter. McCabe's conventional 3-point play, followed by an
Alexis Hartwick 3-pointer midway through the second quarter cut the deficit to one, before another 3-pointer from Hartwick at 3:10 knotted it at 30. Salem International scored the final four points, including a pair of free-throws with 30 seconds in the half, put the Tigers up 34-30 at the break.
Salem International quickly increased the lead back out to eight to start the third quarter, but Pitt-Johnstown responded with a 14-1 run over the next five minutes to build a five-point lead of its own.
Alexis Harris' jumper gave the Cats their first lead of the evening, and
Maurina Nunn followed with a 3-pointer to make it 46-41 at the 3:10 mark. After the Tigers got it back down to one, McCabe hit a pair of free-throws and Nunn made one-of-two from the line to give Pitt-Johnstown a 49-46 advantage entering the fourth quarter.
The Cats used a lay-up and free-throw from
Gabrielle Smith and a basket from McCabe with just over five minutes left to play to increase the lead to nine. The Tigers trimmed it to three, but McCabe, who ended the night shooting 12-13 from the charity stripe, connected on six straight free-throws in the final 30 seconds to secure Pitt-Johnstown's 10-point victory.
Along with McCabe, Hartwick finished with 12 points, Smaith had nine points and eight rebounds, and O'Barto had nine points and five rebounds for Pitt-Johnstown. Harris added six points, seven rebounds, and a game-high six assists, and
Nicole Olkosky chipped-in six points and three rebounds.
Pitt-Johnstown, which out-rebounded the Tigers 42-39 and forced 20 turnovers, shot 35.5% (22-62) from the field, 4-22 from 3-point range, and 19-30 from the free-throw line. Salem International shot 35.0% (21-60) from the floor, 3-14 from behind the 3-point line, and 12-21 from teh charity stripe.
Salem International, which dropped to 1-2, got a game-high 24 points and seven rebounds from Keishla Gilmore and 14 points and 11 rebounds from Quamilla Jackson.
Pitt-Johnstown will make its 2017-18 home debut with PSAC doubleheaders with the men's team against Bloomsburg University on Saturday and East Stroudsburg University on Sunday. Both doubleheaders will tip-off at 1 p.m. in the Sports Center. Between games of Saturday's doubleheader, Pitt-Johnstown will have it new Sports Center Floor Dedication Ceremony.
