Sixth-year Head Coach Mike Drahos and the Pitt-Johnstown women's basketball program have added three recruits for the 2018-19 season, including three-time PIAA All-States selection and NCAA Division I transfer from the University of Maryland Baltimore County, Alli McGrath.
 
      "We are very excited about our recruiting class," Coach Drahos said.  "We feel these additions fill some gaps we had and bring us to a different level for this season.  Alli McGrath is a very talented player.  She transferred in from the University of Maryland Baltimore County and can flat out score in a variety of ways.  Abbie Pechin gives us a hard-nosed defender who is tough as nails. Our third recruit is Madalyn Mendenhall from Eastern Pennsylvania.  Maddy is a good ball-handler and her shot is getting more consistent every day.  We are eager to see what the future holds for our program with these three on the roster," Coach Drahos said.
 
Alli McGrath    Junior      Forward     5'10"     South Park, Pa. / South Park High School / UMBC
      Alli McGrath was a three-time PIAA All-State selection from South Park High School and a two-year letter-winner at Division I University of Baltimore County (UMBC), before transferring to Pitt-Johnstown prior to the 2018-19 season.
      At South Park High School, McGrath was a four-year letter-winner in basketball and a one-year letter-winner in track and field.  McGrath finished her high school basketball career with 1,888 points, three all-section, and three all-state awards.  She guided South Park to four straight playoff berths, including one PIAA State Championship and two PIAA appearances in the state semifinals.  In addition, South Park won three section titles and one WPIAL Championship.
      In 2016-17 and 2017-18, McGrath was a letterman at UMBC.  As a freshman, McGrath played 15.5 minutes per game and averaged 4.7 points per game.  The following season, she started eight games and averaged 6.2 points in 21 minutes per game.
      McGrath is the daughter of Catherine McGrath and the late James McGrath.  She was coached by Reggie Wells at South Park High School.
 
Madalyn Mendenhall     Freshman     Guard    5'5"      Ephrata, Pa / Ephrata High School
      Madalyn Mendenhall, earned varsity letters in both basketball and track and field at Ephrata High School.  She posted single-game career-highs of 15 points and four rebounds and was named a Defensive All-Star at the Keystone State Tournament in 2017.  As a sophomore in 2015-16, Mendenhall helped lead Ephrata to a 25-5 overall record and a Section Championship.
      As a junior and senior at Ephrata High School, Mendenhall became the first female to play in the Ephrata Men's Basketball Recreational League.
      She also coached a recreational league team of third and fourth graders all four years of high school.
      Mendenhall is the daughter of Tim and April Albert.  She was coached by Mike Garman Ephrata High School.
 
Abbie Pechin       Freshman       Guard       5'7"        Pittsburgh, Pa. / Oakland Catholic H.S.
      Abbie Pechin was a three-year letter-winner in basketball and a four-year letter-winner in track and field at Oakland Catholic High School.  She recorded single-game career-highs of 15 points, eight rebounds, and six assists.  She also helped guide Oakland Catholic to a Section Championship in 2017, WPIAL Runner-up finishes in both 2017 and 2018, and a spot in the PIAA State Semifinals in 2018.
      Pechin is the daughter of Brian and Lynn Pechin.  She was coached by Shannon Boyle-Kennedy at Oakland Catholic High School.
 
 
      Pitt-Johnstown will open the 2018-19 season against Shaw (NC) University and Winston-Salem State (NC) University at the Shepherd (WV) University Tip-Off Tournament on November 9 and 10.  After eight consecutive games on the road to begin the year, Pitt-Johnstown will host a PSAC doubleheader with the Mountain Cats against Kutztown University on December 8 at 1 and 3 p.m. in the Sports Center.