Gabrielle Smith's 22 points and Olivia McCabe's double-double wasn't enough as the Pitt-Johnstown Mountain Cats women's basketball team fell to the West Chester Golden Rams, 78-68 Wednesday night at the Pitt-Johnstown Sports Center. The Mountain Cats fell to 8-11 overall and 5-9 in the PSAC west.
 
The Mountain Cats raced out to an early 6-0 lead, on a Maurina Nunn layup with 8:53 remaining in the first quarter. The Golden Rams answered to take the lead, 9-8 on a Porscha Speller layup with 5:26 left in the first half.
 
The Mountain Cats quickly retook the lead 11-9, when Gabrielle Smith knocked down a 3-pointer with 4:38 left in the first quarter. Pitt-Johnstown would lead the rest of the first half.
 
West Chester opened up the scoring in the second quarter when Justyn Roberts split free throws with 9:06 remaining in the second quarter, to cut into the 19-17 Mountain Cats lead. Smith knocked down a corner 3-pointer to make it, 22-17 that was assisted by Maddie Shanahan.
 
With 6:10 remaining in the first half, Camden Boehner hit a 3-pointer to bring the Golden Rams within two points, 24-22. After a Nicole Olkosky layup and a Tori Moreland 3-pointer, the Mountain Cats opened up their biggest lead of the half with five minutes left in the first half.
 
The Golden Rams fought back to get within three points with 1:20 remaining in the half, before Moreland hit another 3-pointer to give the Mountain Cats a 35-29 lead going into halftime.
 
 
With 7:37 remaining in the third quarter, West Chester cut the Mountain Cats deficit to two on a Speller layup to make it, 39-37. The Mountain Cats widened the lead back to seven after a McCabe layup and Moreland 3-pointer to make it 44-37, with 5:30 remaining.
 
The Golden Rams went on a 10-2 run, late in the third quarter, to take the lead 48-47, on a Mia Hopkins layup.  The Mountain Cats retook the lead, 51-49 with 1:31 left on a McCabe layup assisted by Mia Oterson.
 
The Golden Rams took the lead with 6:41 remaining in the forth on a Lexi Bruno layup to make it 59-57. The Mountain Cats answered on the next possession when Alexis Hartwick knocked down an open 3-pointer.
 
The Golden Rams answered with back-to-back 3-pointers by Alexis Anderson to give them a 65-60 lead, with 5:24 remaining in the game. The Mountain Cats got it within three points, 67-64, on a Smith layup with 4:41 left in the game.
 
The Golden Rams answered with a Bruno 3-pointer to extend the lead back to six points, 70-64. West Chester closed the game out going 8-9 from the free-throw line in the final minute.
 
Smith led the Mountain Cats offensively with 22 points and grabbed nine rebounds. McCabe posted a double-double with 16 points and 14 rebounds. Moreland also reached double figures scoring 15 points on three 3-pointers.
 
West Chester had four players reach double figures and was led by Speller who tallied 18 points. Katherine Fisher, Hopkins and Anderson all ended the night with 10 points.
 
Pitt-Johnstown finished the game shooting 42.6% (29-68) from the field and 40% (4-10) from behind the arc. In the first half, West Chester shot 28.1% (9-32) from the field but after a hot second half finished the game 43.1% (28-65).
 
The Mountain Cats return to action Saturday afternoon when they travel to take on Gannon University, before traveling to Edinboro University Wednesday night.