Gannon outscored Pitt-Johnstown 21-11 in the second quarter to build a double digit advantage, before holding on a Pitt-Johnstown comeback in a 69-59 PSAC Western Division win over the Mountain Cats, Saturday afternoon in Erie.
Olivia Fasick's game-highs of 18 points and five steals led Pitt-Johnstown, which slipped to 12-9 overall and 7-8 in conference-play.
Along with Fasick, the Mountain Cats also got 12 points from
Ashley Norling, 11 points
Gabrielle Smith, and eight points and a team-high seven rebounds from
Makalyn Clapper.
Boston McKinney's lay-up gave Gannon an early 9-2 advantage, but Pitt-Johnstown came back to cut it to 11-8 on a Clapper jumper late in the opening quarter.
Maddie Shanahan's bucket on the Mountain Cats' first possession of the second quarter made it a one-point game, before Gannon countered with a 17-2 run
over the next five minutes, capped by Chelsea Rourke's 3-pointer and a basket from Tori Obenrader, to rebuild the lead to 28-12. Five straight points from Norling helped Pitt-Johnstown pull to within 13 at 32-19 at the half.
After Fasick's 3-pointer to begin the third quarter got it down to 10, the Golden Knights outscored Pitt-Johnstown 19-9 the rest of the way to take a 20-point lead into the fourth quarter.
Gannon scored the first six points of the final quarter make it 57-31 on two Sydney Mitchell free-throws. Pitt-Johnstown finished strong, outscoring the Golden Knights 28-12 over the final 7:54, but it wasn't enough.
Pitt-Johnstown shot 36.7% (22-60) from the field, but just 3-19 from behind the 3-point line. The Mountain Cats were also 12-16 from the free-throw line.
Gannon ended the afternoon shooting 51.9% (28-54) from the floor, 4-12 from behind the arc, and 9-11 from the charity stripe.
Haley Tewes had 13 points and a game-high 13 rebounds, and Obenrader added 13 points to lead a balanced Gannon attack that saw seven players score six or more points.
With the win, the Golden Knights improved to 17-4 overall and 13-2 in the PSAC West.
Pitt-Johnstown returns home to host PSAC doubleheaders with the men's team against California (PA) on Wednesday starting at 5:30 p.m. in the Sports Center and Edinboro for Alumni Day on Saturday at 5 p.m.
