Camille Dominick's 12 points led three double figure scorers and helped Pitt-Johnstown battle back from a pair of double-digit deficits, but Saginaw Valley State (MI) was able to extend the lead late and locked down a, 65-55, non-conference win over the Mountain Cats, Monday evening in the Sports Center.
Riley Childress had 11 points, five rebounds, and three assists, and M'Laya Ainsworth added 11 points, four rebounds, and a pair of assists off the bench to join Dominick in double figures. Pitt-Johnstown, now 1-4 on the year, also got seven points and four rebounds from
Liv West, and five points and five boards from
Lydia Miller.
The Cardinals ran out to an 11-4 lead six minutes into the game on an Aleshia Jones steal and layup, but the Mountain Cats used a 3-pointer from Miller and a bucket from Ainsworth to cut it to two three minutes later.
Saginaw Valley State took a five-point advantage in to the second quarter, but Pitt-Johnstown answered with a 12-3 run to take a four-point lead of its own. Childress' 3-pointer early in the quarter knotted it at 19 and a pair of free-throws from Dominick at 5:12 make it 26-22.


The Cardinals clawed back and took a slim, 33-30 lead into the halftime break on Ava Locklear's jumper.
However, Saginaw Valley State held the lead in the second half. Jones'3-pointer as time expired in the third quarter increased to 48-39 and another basket from Locklear to open the final quarter put the Cardinals in front by 11.
The Mountain Cats, who face full court pressure all game, got as close as four with 6:10 to play on Dominick's layup and free-throw, but the Cardinals never let it get any closer.
Pitt-Johnstown out rebounded the Cardinals by three, but had a tough shooting night, going just 17-46 from the field and 4-15 from behind the 3-point line. Pitt-Johnstown was also a solid 17-21 from the free-throw line. Saginaw Valley State was limited to 44.3% shooting and just 5-24 from behind the arc.
With the win, Saginaw Valley State improved to 3-1.
Pitt-Johnstown will host PSAC Crossover doubleheaders with the men's team against Lock Haven on Friday at 3 p.m. and Mansfield on Saturday at 1 p.m.