JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – Despite the Marauders' nine-point lead heading into the final quarter, the University of Pitt-Johnstown (UPJ) outscored Millersville 29-14 in the fourth to boost the Mountain Cats over the Marauders with a final score of 60-54.
Millersville (6-4, 1-3 PSAC) dropped their first game in the West on Sunday afternoon and looked to change their momentum against Pitt-Johnstown (6-4, 3-1 PSAC). The Marauders trailed the Mountain Cats by one-point at the end of the first and were able to regain the lead 25-24 enter halftime. Pulling away in the third quarter, Millersville created distance from UPJ with a 7-2 run to lead by nine-points entering the fourth. The Mountain Cats generated 10-points within the final two minutes to defeat the Marauders on Monday afternoon.
Taylor Langan led all players in points, scoring 22 for Millersville. Langan went 8-for-16 from the floor, 2-for-3 behind the arc, and made 4-of-6 free throws. She also grabbed four rebounds and made two steals. Makiah Shaw shot 4-for-5 on the floor to total eight-points for the Marauders. Brenna Ortwein tallied seven-points and freshman Jaida Parker added five.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- It was a low scoring first quarter as both teams generated single-digits in the first nine minutes of action. UPJ made two layups with just over a minute left to lead Millersville 10-9.
- Six lead changes within the second quarter kept the game close. Pitt-Johnstown hit a three-pointer to tie the score 22-22 with 3:22 remaining before the half. Langan answered from behind the arc to give Millersville the lead and a UPJ layup cut the Mountain Cats deficit to one-point headed into the half.
- Millersville dominated the third quarter by outscoring UPJ 15-7. Brenna Ortwein made two free throws to put the Marauders up by one. Millersville then went on a 13-5 run to create their biggest lead of the game with a score of 40-31 to enter the fourth quarter.
- The Mountain Cats opened the final minutes of regulation with a 10-point run to regain the lead, 41-40. With 5:29 remaining, Langan finished two free throws to tie the score and give Millersville a chance to take the game back. The Marauders began to foul the Mountain Cats which put UPJ at the free throw line. Pitt-Johnstown generated 12-points in under five minutes from free throws which extended their lead with minimal time left on the clock to push Millersville out of reach.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- The Marauders shot 44.9% on the floor, 33.3% behind the arc, and made 7-of-10 free throws. Millersville saw their best shooting in the third quarter, going 6-for-11 on the floor.
- Jabria Ingram recorded her season-high of five steals and four points against UPJ.
- La'Shyra Williams tallied four points and four defensive rebounds for the Marauders.
- Marin Miller and Bria Beverly each totaled two-points.
- Pitt-Johnstown was held to shooting 30% on the floor in the third, while also going 0-for-4 in threes.
- Millersville held the edge in points off turnovers (15-8), bench points (11-8), and fast break points (9-3).
- The Mountain Cats held the edge second chance points (13-8) and points in the paint (32-26).
POST GAME THOUGHTS FROM HEAD COACH SHARAY HALL
"Our team played hard today. Unfortunately, UPJ capitalized off a few of our defensive lapses late and created a lead. Overall, I'm happy for our efforts guarding the three-point line. We fought until the end and will use this weekend's losses to grow in different areas and come back strong after the break."
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