Pitt-Johnstown connected on 23-of-27 from the free-throw line and outscored West Virginia Wesleyan 19-7 in the fourth quarter to erase a five-point deficit and improve to 3-0 with a 70-63 win, Wednesday evening in Buckhannon, W.Va.
Gabrielle Smith scored a game-high 25 points and
Alli McGrath added 24 points to lead the Mountain Cats.
Pitt-Johnstown got off to a quick start and used an McGrath 3-pointer to build a six-point lead two minutes into the game, but West Virginia Wesleyan answered with an 11-2 run to go up 13-10 on Brittany Stawovy's 3-pointer at 4:57. The Mountain Cats regained the lead on
Maurina Nunn's layup and took a 22-21 lead on back-to-back baskets from Smith late in the quarter.
The Bobcats scored the first four points of the second quarter to retake the lead 25-22, before Pitt-Johnstown clawed back to tie it at 35 at the half on four straight free-throws from Smith and a pair from
Tori Moreland.
After Nicole Gilyard's jumper closed a quick 8-1 West Virginia Wesleyan spurt to open the third quarter that put the Bobcats in front 43-36, the Mountain Cats cut it to one on McGrath's free-throws and Smith's bucket in the paint at the 6:24 mark. The Bobcats pushed it back out to seven at 49-42 on another basket by Jackson, and went into the fourth leading 56-51.
The Mountain Cats took control early in the fourth quarter and battled back to regain the lead. Pitt-Johnstown outscored West Virginia Wesleyan 10-2 over the first five minutes of the quarter, and got a basket from Nunn and five straight points from McGrath to go in front 61-58. The Mountain Cats never trailed again and hit 5-of-6 from the line in the final :50 to seal the seven-point victory.
Smith finished with game-highs 25 points (11-12 FTs) and 10 rebounds, and McGrath added 24 points and five rebounds to pace Pitt-Johnstown. Moreland had 13 points (8-9 FTs), four rebounds and four assists, while Nunn collected four points, five rebounds, and five assists, and
Maddie Shanahan tallied four point
and six rebounds.
The Mountain Cats shot 42.6% (20-47) from the floor, while holding the Bobcats to just 39.1% (27-69) shooting, including just 4-19 from 3-point range and 5-7 from the charity stripe. Pitt-Johnstown was 6-15 from behind the 3-point line and 24-27 from the free-throw line.
Jackson's 20 points and seven rebounds and Tyra Hughes' 16 points and five rebounds led the way for the Bobcats, who fell to 0-1.
Pitt-Johnstown travels to non-conference games at Bloomsburg on Saturday and Wheeling Jesuit (WV) on November 26. The Mountain Cats will make their home debut with a PSAC game against Kutztown as part of a doubleheader with the men's team on December 8 at 1 p.m. in the Sports Center.
