
Ashley Norling racked up a game-high 25 points and 12 rebounds to record her second consecutive double-double as the Pitt-Johnstown women's basketball team handily beat Clarion 99-58 on Saturday afternoon in the Sports Center.
On a day where Pitt-Johnstown basketball welcomed back alumni, family and friends as part of the Winterfest Weekend celebration, the Cats raced out to a 31-9 lead after one quarter and never looked back on the way to their most lopsided victory of the season.
The Cats improved to 13-8 (10-5 PSAC) and matched their win total from last season with seven games remaining in the regular season. They also exacted revenge for an earlier season setback at Clarion by forcing 24 turnovers and winning the points off turnovers battle 32-10.
Junior Cassidy Crawford netted a season-high 17 points for Pitt-Johnstown. Makalyn Clapper provided a season-high 16 points, four assists, three rebounds and two steals, while Hayden Taylor added 15 points and three assists.
Norling scored on a layup with just five seconds left to put the finishing touches on a first quarter where the Cats shot 63% (12 of 19) from the field.
Crawford connected on a pair of free throws with 1:32 remaining in the first half as the Cats outscored the Golden Eagles 14-7 over the final five minutes to head into the break with a 51-25 advantage.
The break did little to quell Pitt-Johnstown's offensive onslaught as it poured in the first 15 points of the third quarter and went up by 41 on a layup from Norling at the 6:08 mark. The Cats virtually could not miss in the third as they shot 84% (11 of 13) from the floor.
Pitt-Johnstown outscored Clarion in the paint 58-20. Fourteen players checked into the game for the Cats, by far the most this season.
Sierra Bermudez scored a team-high 20 points for Clarion, which fell to 3-18 (3-13 PSAC).
The Cats visit No. 23 Gannon on Monday. Tip-off is set for 5:30 p.m.