Box Score

JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – The University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown women's basketball team ran out to a 16-2 lead early in the first half and never looked back in handing Slippery Rock a 65-50 defeat Wednesday night at the Sports Center.

The Rock (0-6) struggled out of the gate as Pitt-Johnstown (3-4) opened up a 14-point lead after seven minutes before cruising to the win, despite not scoring in the final 4:02 of the game.

Slippery Rock shot 32.2 percent from the field, hitting on 19-of-59 attempts. The Rock was just 4-of-22 (18.2 percent) from behind the 3-point arc.

Pitt-Johnstown finished with a shooting percentage of 41.4 percent, converting on 24-of-58 attempts, including 6-of-21 from the 3-point arc. The Mountain Cats posted a 41-35 edge in rebounding and both teams turned the ball over 22 times.

The Rock was led by Danielle Smith with game-highs of 19 points and nine rebounds. Alex Beatty added eight points and six rebounds and Emilee Vitez chipped in six points, seven rebounds and five assists.

Pitt-Johnstown was led by Sheena Aden with 15 points and eight rebounds. Kayla Loughner added 12 points and five rebounds and Maria Montini scored 11 points off the bench.

The Mountain Cats scored the first eight points of the game before SRU got on the board and then pushed the lead out to 16-2 with 13:17 to play in the half.

The Rock chipped away at the lead and got back to within four points and 18-14 with 10:39 to play, but UPJ answered back with an 8-0 run to push the lead back out to 12 points before taking a 13-point edge into the halftime break at 43-30.

The second half opened in similar fashion to the first, with UPJ scoring the first seven points to open up a 20-point lead at 50-30 with 17 minutes to play. The Rock cut the lead to 13 with 7:35 to play, but another 8-0 run from the Mountain Cats put the game out of reach.

Slippery Rock returns home in search of its first win of the season Saturday, Dec. 11, when Notre Dame College (Ohio) visits Morrow Field House for a 2 p.m. tip.