The Pitt-Johnstown men's and women's basketball teams will kick-off the second semester with PSAC Crossover games against Shippensburg, Wednesday evening in the Sports Center.  The women will take on the Red Raiders at 5:30, before the men's game at 7:30 p.m.
 
Head Coach Mike Drahos' (11^th year) and the Pitt-Johnstown squad enters the game at 8-3 overall and 3-2 in the PSAC after having their four-game winning streak stopped with a 64-54 conference crossover loss at Kutztown on Saturday.  Hayden Taylor knocked down four 3-pointers and finished with 14 points, while Peyton Alazaus added 10 points for the Mountain Cats.  Pitt-Johnstown also got nine points from Olivia Fasick, who ranks 38^th on the Mountain Cat All-Time Scoring List with 1,033 points, and seven points and a game-high nine rebounds from Cassidy Crawford.
 
Shippensburg, under 25^th-year Head Coach Kristy Trn, has lost its last six games and slipped to 1-10 overall and 0-5 in conference-play after Saturday's, 76-67, home PSAC Crossover setback to Edinboro.  Treasure George (17 points), Bella Chimienti (15 points), and Taja Colbert (14 points) all scored in double figures for the Raiders, while Carolina Rodriguez-Sanchez tallied seven points and a game-high 10 rebounds.
 
Since the 2004-05 season, Shippensburg leads the series between the two teams, 8-3.  In the last meeting on Dec. 18, 2021, the Red Raiders held off the Mountain Cats, 69-61, in the Sports Center.  Alazaus scored 22 points and had five rebounds, while Ashley Norling added 12 points and nine boards for Pitt-Johnstown.  Shippensburg was led by Destiny Jefferson's game-high 23 points and Aunbrielle Green's 22 points and game-high 12 rebounds.
 
 
The Pitt-Johnstown men, 4-7 overall and 2-3 in the PSAC under Head Coach Bob Rukavina (35^th-year), came off of the holiday break and got 15 points and a career-high 16 rebounds from Gavin Headings and 11 points and 10 rebounds from Vinnie Cugini in an 84-63 road win at Kutztown on Saturday.  Nick Watts netted a career-high 16 points off the bench, while Andrew Shull (15 points, 6 assists), Ryan Smith (10 points), and Will Kromka (10 points) also scored in double figures for the Mountain Cats, who outscored the Golden Bears, 56-28, in the second half.
 
Shippensburg enters the game at 5-5 overall and 2-3 in the PSAC under Head Coach Jeff Wilson (21^st year).  The Red Raiders snapped a three-game losing skid with a 77-71 home win over Edinboro on Saturday.  Markus Frank had a game-high 24 points and 10 rebounds, and Andrew Recchia and Trey Martin tallied 15 and 10 points, respectively for Shippensburg.
 
The Mountain Cats and Red Raiders first met during the 1970-71 season.  Through the first 60 meetings, Shippensburg holds a 36-24 advantage.  After the Mountain Cats dealt the Red Raiders an 81-73 loss during the 2019-20 season, Shippensburg bounced back with a 76-62 victory in the Sports Center on Dec. 18, 2021.  John Paul Kromka (16 points), Joe Batt (11 points), and Smith (10 points) all scored in double figures for Pitt-Johnstown.  Jake Biss' game-high 20 points and Dom Sleva's 14 points and game-high 17 rebounds paced the Red Raiders.
 
Pitt-Johnstown will begin PSAC West-play at Mercyhurst on Saturday, before returning home to the Sports Center next Wednesday to host a conference doubleheader against Clarion.  The women will tip-off at 5:30 p.m., with the men's games scheduled for 7:30 p.m.