Pitt-Johnstown took a lead into the final quarter, but couldn't hang on in a 64-57 loss to Shepherd in what was the last PSAC crossover game for both teams on Saturday afternoon in Shepherdstown.

The Mountain Cats slipped to 1-11 (0-6 PSAC).

Freshman Gianna Gallucci provided the Mountain Cats with a spark in just 10 minutes of action off the bench, notching a game-high 15 points on a perfect 6-for-6 from the floor.

Sophomore Belle Bosch recorded her second double-double of the year with 12 points and a game-high 13 rebounds. Freshman Sophia Ott tallied 12 points, three rebounds and a pair of steals.

A superb defensive performance and a clutch 3-pointer from Gallucci in the waning seconds of the third quarter allowed the Mountain Cats to go into the fourth up 45-42.

Neither team led by more than four points throughout the first nine minutes of the fourth. Shepherd connected on a triple that gave it a three-point advantage at 60-56 with less than two minutes to play.  

Junior Riley Childress, who played all 40 minutes, hit 1-of-2 at the line to cut it to 60-57, but that was all the closer the Mountain Cats would get. The Rams went 4-for-6 at the free-throw line in the final minute to seal it.

A slow start put the Mountain Cats in a 16-2 hole just seven minutes into the opening quarter. After bringing it to within 19-10 by the end of the frame, Pitt-Johnstown bounced back in the second thanks in large part to Gallucci's efforts.

Down 29-23 after a jumper from Ott, Gallucci scored the next seven points for the Mountain Cats to trim the deficit to 31-30 with just 1:13 left in the half. Childress went 1-for-2 at the free-throw line as they went into the break down 35-31.

Samiyah Nasir had a team-high 13 points for the Rams, who improved to 4-8 (1-5 PSAC).

The Mountain Cats will have more than a week off for the holiday break before traveling to West Virginia State on Thursday, Jan. 2 for a 2 p.m. tip-off.