Alli McGrath's game-high 18 points paced six Mountain Cats who scored in double figures to lead Pitt-Johnstown to a lopsided, 97-65, non-conference victory over Salem (WV) University, Wednesday evening in the Sports Center.  The Mountain Cats, who built a 23-point halftime advantage, made it five straight wins and improved to 7-1.
 
Pitt-Johnstown dominated in nearly every statistical category.  The Mountain Cats, who held a 49-34 advantage on the glass, shot 59.5% in the first half and finished the game at 54.5% (36-66).  Pitt-Johnstown also connected on 9-19 from 3-point range and 16-25 from the charity stripe.
 
Salem was held to just 28.6% (18-63) shooting, including just 7-28 from behind the arc.  The Tigers were also 22-33 from the free-throw line.
 
After an Inari Jones free-throw gave Salem a one-point lead just over two minutes into the opening quarter, Pitt-Johnstown took over and never looked back.  A 19-6 run over the next five minutes, capped by baskets from Makalyn Clapper and Ashley Norling, gave the Mountain Cats a 12-point lead, before Lindsay Shook's 3-pointer put Pitt-Johnstown in front 31-21 to end the quarter.
 
The Mountain Cats doubled that lead midway through the second quarter on McGrath's layup, and pushed it out to 56-33 at the break on Maurina Nunn's free-throw.
 
Pitt-Johnstown increased it to 34 late in the third quarter, then pushed it out to as many as 38 on another bucket from McGrath with 6:48 to play.
 
The Tigers never got closer than 31 the rest of the way.
 
McGrath's 18 points, including 4-6 from behind the arc led a balanced Pitt-Johnstown scoring attack.  Gabrielle Smith scored 17 points and grabbed six rebounds, while Norling finished with a career-best 14 points and a team-high seven rebounds.  Olivia Fasick had 12 points, a career-high 10 assists, including eight in the first half, and six rebounds, and Maddie Shanahan and Mia Oterson each collected 10 points for the Mountain Cats.
 
Nia Bishop scored 14 points, and Daniela Quesada added 10 points for the Tigers, who fell to 1-6.
 
Pitt-Johnstown will play four consecutive PSAC road games beginning at Bloomsburg on Saturday, before opening the Spring Semester in the Sports Center with a conference doubleheader with the men's team against Gannon on January 6 at 5:30 p.m.