JOHNSTOWN, Pa. — Camille Dominick poured in a game-high 15 points, and Pitt-Johnstown pulled away from California (Pa.) to pick up a crucial 73-57 PSAC West victory on Wednesday night at the Sports Center.

The Mountain Cats improved to 9-15 (6-11 PSAC) and scratched within a game of the Vulcans for the Western Division's sixth and final playoff spot with three regular-season games left.

Dominick, who had seven of the Mountain Cats' 15 first quarter points, finished an efficient 7 of 9 from the floor and added six rebounds and four assists. 

Senior Liv West provided 14 points and team-highs of eight rebounds and three steals. Freshman Alyssa Altemus set new career-highs with 14 points and six rebounds. Senior Lexi Margolis contributed 12 points and four assists, and Riley Childress supplied 10 points and a game-high seven assists.

Neither team carved out a lead larger than four points throughout a competitive first half that included two ties and nine lead changes. 

Dominick's layup at the 1:56 mark of the second quarter broke up a 31-all tie and put the Mountain Cats in front for good. They took a 37-33 edge into the break.

Altemus drilled two clutch 3-pointers midway through the third, the latter giving the Mountain Cats a 53-41 lead.

West connected on a jumper with 32 seconds left in the third quarter to make it 57-41 going into the fourth. Altemus then opened up a 59-41 lead on a layup just 20 seconds into the final frame, the largest to that point. The lead never dipped below 12 points over the remaining eight minutes.

The Mountain Cats shot 51.6% (32 of 62) from the field and 37.5% (6 of 16) from beyond the 3-point arc. They capitalized with 19 points off 13 turnovers by the Vulcans and mounted a 33-31 rebounding edge.

Hope Hawkins had 14 points and seven rebounds for the Vulcans, who fell to 11-16 (7-10 PSAC).

Pitt-Johnstown will visit No. 8 Gannon for a 1 p.m. tip-off on Saturday, Feb. 21.