JOHNSTOWN, Pa. — Pitt-Johnstown mixed balanced scoring with a stifling defensive effort that included holding Shippensburg to just nine first quarter points in a comfortable 85-68 victory on Saturday afternoon in the Sports Center.

Eleven players contributed in the scoring column as the Mountain Cats improved to 3-5 (0-1 PSAC) on the year.

Lexi Margolis drilled three triples and tied a team-high with 13 points, a game-high four steals, three assists and three rebounds. Aubree Price provided 13 points in 14 minutes off the bench.

Camille Dominick added 12 points and pulled down four rebounds, while Sophia Ott chipped in 10 points, four rebounds and a pair of assists. M'laya Ainsworth had nine points and grabbed five rebounds.

The Mountain Cats held Shippensburg to just 33% (4 of 12) from the field over the first 10 minutes, and took advantage by building a lead that was never in danger of slipping away. Price poured in the last seven points of the first to give Pitt-Johnstown a 22-9 lead after one. 

Margolis hit a three midway through the second to make it 37-17. The Mountain Cats opened up a 23-point lead for the first time on two Childress free throws that pushed it to 41-18. Childress connected on two more free throws in the final seconds to send Pitt-Johnstown into the locker room up 46-23.

A quick 5-0 run that included a Margolis three extended the lead to as many as 28 and allowed the Mountain Cats to coast home from there. 

Pitt-Johnstown finished 43.8% from the field (28 of 64), 31.8% (7 of 22) from beyond the 3-point arc and a steady 75.9% (22 of 29) at the free-throw line. The Mountain Cats turned 25 Shippensburg turnovers into 28 points, had a 36-28 edge in points in the paint and had 52 bench points compared to the Raiders' eight.

McKenzie Thomas recorded a game-high 19 points for Shippensburg, which fell to 1-6 (0-1 PSAC). 

Pitt-Johnstown will host Bloomsburg at 3 p.m. Tuesday in the Sports Center as part of a PSAC doubleheader with the men's team.