Box Score Johnstown, Pa. – A final second three-point attempt by West Chester's
Dallas Ely (Montrose, Pa. / Montrose) hit the backboard and rattled out, causing the No. 25 Golden Rams to foul and eventually fall to Pitt-Johnstown 69-65 inside the Sports Center Saturday afternoon.
The Golden Rams (2-2, 1-1) shot 18.3 percent from 3-point range and was battling from behind for the most the day to end up 3-for-20 from beyond-the-arc. Pitts-Johnstown (2-2, 1-1) finished with three players in double figure scoring and six fewer turnovers to hold on for the five-point victory.
Both teams were knotted up at 10-10 when Pitt-Johnstown began a 12-2 run to lead by 12 points in the first quarter, and end up going into halftime up 45-35 over the nationally ranked Golden Rams. The Mountain Cats went up 15-10 before WCU called a timeout with 4:09 left in the first quarter to kick off the run. Bench points played a huge factor as UPJs' bench outscored the Golden Rams 21-10 in the first half of play.
Sr., G
Brittany Sinciski (Downingtown, Pa. / Downingtown West) registered a season-high 20 points to go with seven rebounds, four assists, three steals, and two blocks.
Anna Kuntz (Camp Hill, Pa. / Trinity) was one rebound shy of a double-double registering 10 points and nine rebounds in the loss.
Pitts-Johnstown defense limited Ely to four points (1-for-7) and zero shots from behind the three-point line.
Mountain Cats scored the first bucket of the second half with a three to go up by their largest lead of the game at 13, but it was short lasted as
Kendall Benovy (Hershey, Pa. / Hershey) finding her stride in the paint converting on back-to-back layups. Then a 3-pointer by Sicinski would continue a 7-0 run for the Golden Rams, until a three off a pick at the top of the arc was drilled by Olivia Rizzo to halt WCUs' momentum at the 4:37 mark in the third quarter (55-42).
Aria Hollen scored 15 points to lead the team, to go with eight rebounds in the win. Teammate Olivia McCabe registered a double-double by adding 12 points and 10 rebounds in the victory. Laurel O'Barto added 12 points as well after scoring 10 points in the opening quarter alone before being limited to two points in the second half.
West Chester will look to rebound on the court tomorrow as they take on Indiana (Pa.) at 1 p.m.
