Ashley Norling and Hayden Taylor each scored 15 points to help the fifth-seeded Pitt-Johnstown women's basketball team storm back from an 18-point first quarter deficit and take a four-point fourth quarter lead, but top seeded and nationally-ranked Gannon slipped by the Mountain Cats, 71-67, in Wednesday's PSAC Quarterfinals in Erie.  Pitt-Johnstown wrapped-up the 2022-23 season with a solid 17-13 overall record.
 
Norling scored 15 points and grabbed six rebounds, while Taylor added 15 points, including 4-8 from behind the arc to pace the Mountain Cats.  Olivia Fasick had 13 points, seven boards, and five assists, and Peyton Alazaus knocked down three 3-pointer and finished with 12 points.  Cassidy Crawford added seven points off the bench for Pitt-Johnstown.
 
Gannon came out of the gates on fire and raced out to a 22-4 lead after one quarter, but the Mountain Cats bounced back in a big way.
 
Pitt-Johnstown hit its first five shots to start the second quarter in a 13-2 run that cut it to 24-17 on a Norling layup, before the Golden Knights were able to rebuild their lead to 33-19 with 1:38 left in the half on Madison Demski's bucket.
 
The Mountain Cats answered with a pair of Molly Wagoner free-throws with :01 to cut it to 35-24 at the break and held the momentum in the third quarter.
 
Pitt-Johnstown used 80% (8-10) shooting in the quarter and outscored Gannon 30-15 to battle all the way back to take the lead.  Taylor hit a pair of early 3-pointers and Makalyn Clapper connected on two from the line to knot it at 47 at the 2:38 mark.  The Mountain Cats completed the comeback and went on top 49-48 on Crawford's layup, before Wagoner's shot jumper with :14 to go made it 54-50.
 
Pitt-Johnstown held the lead for the first four minutes of the fourth quarter until Pirosko's 3-pointer gave Gannon the lead back at 59-58.
 
Alazaus followed with a 3-pointer of her own to give Pitt-Johnstown the lead again and Fasick's free-throws increased it to 65-61 with 3:15 to play.
 
However, the Golden Knights were able to outscore the Mountain Cats 10-2 down the stretch, including going 6-6 from the line to edge Pitt-Johnstown by four.
 
Pitt-Johnstown shot 48.9% (22-45) from the floor, 7-22 from behind the arc, and 16-21 from the line.  The Golden Knights ended the evening shooting 47.3 (26-55) and 5-15 from 3-point range.  Gannon was also 14-17 from the charity stripe.
 
Pirosko's game-high 27 points and five rebounds and Bri Claxon's 10 points led the way for the Golden Knights, who improved to 28-3 and advance to Saturday's PSAC Semifinals.