Lock Haven shot 71% in the third quarter to erase a two-point halftime deficit and earn a 77-62 PSAC crossover victory over the Mountain Cats, Saturday afternoon in Lock Haven.  Alli McGrath's game-high 24 points paced Pitt-Johnstown, which slipped to 7-4 overall and 2-3 in the PSAC Western Division.
 
McGrath's 24 points and Gabrielle Smith's 18 points and seven rebounds led the Mountain Cats.  Olivia Fasick had six points, four rebounds, four assists, and three steals, while Ashley Norling scored five points off the bench, and Maddie Shanahan grabbed six rebounds.
 
Pitt-Johnstown got off to a fast start and doubled-up Lock Haven, 12-6, midway through the opening quarter on baskets from McGrath and Smith.  A 9-2 Bald Eagles' run over the next two minutes, capped by Rileigh Devine's 3-pointer, gave the lead to Lock Haven, but a pair of Smith free-throws and a late Maurina Nunn layup put the Mountain Cats on top 18-17.
 
Neither team was able to establish momentum in the second quarter, and Pitt-Johnstown took a slim, 31-29, advantage into the halftime break on two more free-throws from Smith with eight seconds left.
 
The Bald Eagles took control to start the second half.  Led by 11 points from Devine and capped by a Marena Lonardi 3-pointer, Lock Haven shots 71% and outscored the Mountain Cats 29-8, in the third quarter to build a 28-39 lead of its own.
 
Pitt-Johnstown stormed back with a 21-8 run to start the final quarter to get to within six at 66-60 on McGrath's layup and Smith's free-throw, but the Bald Eagles hit their free-throws down the stretch and went on to the 15-point win.
 
The Mountain Cats were held to 36.9% shooting (24-65), including 5-25 from behind the arc.  Pitt-Johnstown was 9-11 from the free-throw line.  After a slow start, Lock Haven shot 71% in the third quarter and finished the day at an even 50% (28-56).  The Bald Eagles were also 9-21 from 3-point range, and 13-16 from the charity stripe.
 
Devine finished with 21 points and six rebounds, while Lonardi scored 19 points, and Ahnera Parker collected 14 points and eight rebounds to help Lock Haven wins its fifth straight game and improve to 7-3 overall and 4-1 in the PSAC East.
 
Pitt-Johnstown will break for the holiday season, before traveling to California (PA) for a PSAC game on January 3.  The Mountain Cats will then host a conference a doubleheader with the men's team against Gannon on January 6 at 5:30 p.m. in the Sports Center.