Makalyn Clapper poured in a game-high 19 points and grabbed seven rebounds to help Pitt-Johnstown build a 14-point second half lead on its way to a 71-61 PSAC Western Division victory at Clarion on Saturday.  The Mountain Cats improved to 11-13 overall and evened its record in conference-play at 9-9.
 
Along with Clapper, Olivia Fasick scored 14 points and dished out a game-high nine assists, while Ashley Norling scored a dozen points and pulled down five rebounds for Pitt-Johnstown.  The Mountain Cats also got 10 points from Peyton Alazaus, eight points and a game-high 11 boards from Molly Wagoner, and seven rebounds off the bench from Kylah Franklin.
 
The Mountain Cats got off to a good start.  Pitt-Johnstown held Clarion 0-6 shooting to begin and opened-up a 7-0 lead on five early points from Clapper.  Back-to-back baskets from Fasick kept the lead at seven, before a pair of Norling free-throws with :30 left in the first quarter put the Mountain Cats on top, 14-11.
 
The Golden Eagles clawed back to take a 17-14 lead on Santoro's free-throws three minutes into the second quarter.  Pitt-Johnstown answered to tie it at 21 midway through the quarter on Fasick's bucket and regain the lead 31-29 on Clapper's third 3-pointer of the half.  Clarion got two free-throws from Emily Hegedus with under a minute remaining to knot it at 31 at the half.
 
The Mountain Cats came out in the third quarter and took control.  Pitt-Johnstown outscored Clarion 23-9 to build a 14-point advantage.  After an Alazaus turnaround jumper and a Kylah Franklin free-throw at 4:10 got the lead to seven, Clapper connected again to push it into double figures, before Hayden Taylor knocked down a 3-pointer as time expired to five Pitt-Johnstown a 54-40 lead.
 
Pitt-Johnstown never let the Golden Eagles get closer than eight the entire fourth quarter and maintained its 14-point advantage with six minutes to play on its way to the 10-point victory.
 
Pitt-Johnstown, which held a 42-39 advantage on the glass and a 26-13 in points off of turnovers, made shots when it needed to and stepped up the defense against the Golden Eagles.  The Mountain Cats ended the day shooting 41.5% (27-65) from the floor with six three pointers.  Pitt-Johnstown also got the job done from the line, connected on 11 of its 13 attempts.  Clarion was held to just 38.6% (22-57) shooting, including 7-20 from behind the arc.  The Golden Eagles were also just 10-19 from the free-throw line.
 
Jada Smith's 15 points and 11 rebounds and Allyson Kirby's 12 points paced the Golden Eagles, who dropped their third straight game and fell to 4-19 overall and 3-5 in the PSAC West.
 
Pitt-Johnstown returns home to host a PSAC Western Division doubleheader with the men's team against California (PA) on Monday starting at 5:30 p.m. in the Sports Center, before wrapping up the regular season home schedule with a conference game against Mercyhurst on February 21 at 5:30 p.m.