Pitt-Johnstown fell into a sizable deficit and could never gather enough defensive stops to impede a relentless IUP attack in what became a 79-62 setback on Wednesday night in the Sports Center.

The Mountain Cats endured a frustrating night where they shot just 32.8% (20 of 61) from the field and were outrebounded 40-28. They slipped to 11-5 (6-4 PSAC). 

Peyton Alazaus contributed a team-high 17 points to go along with six rebounds. Freshman Camille Dominick scored 13 points on 6 of 8 from the field and grabbed six rebounds in 23 minutes off the bench. Hayden Taylor made a pair of 3-pointers and added 12 points.

There were only two lead changes and both occurred in the opening quarter. Taylor's pull-up 3-pointer put the Mountain Cats in front 8-6. The Crimson Hawks capped the final five minutes of the first with a 15-6 rally to seize a 21-14 lead that never faded away over the remaining three quarters.

Alazaus connected on three consecutive free throws to trim the deficit to 21-17, but IUP rattled off a 12-2 run to extend its lead to 33-19 midway through the second.The Mountain Cats headed into the locker room down 40-27 after IUP's Kiera Baughman went 2-for-3 at the free-throw line after being fouled on a 3-point attempt in the waning seconds.

Pitt-Johnstown connected on five triples and shot 17 for 18 from the free-throw line. It forced 18 IUP turnovers and turned them into 14 points. 

The interior play became a significant advantage for IUP. While the Crimson Hawks had only three 3-pointers, they more than made up for it inside the arc, racking up 52 points in the paint and finishing with a 54.4% (31 of 57) mark from the field. The Crimson Hawks also made 14 of 16 from the charity stripe.

Teirra Preston and Maria Cerro each netted 18 points apiece to pace IUP, which improved to 11-3 (7-2 PSAC).

Pitt-Johnstown hosts Slippery Rock on Saturday for a 1 p.m. tip-off in the Sports Center.