University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown
vs. Tiffin (OH) University - 01/08/08
Lady Cats Fall Short at Home To Tiffin, 79-66
01/08/08...Krista Britcher (Johnstown, Pa.) and Lindsay Cale (Hummelstown, Pa.) each scored 17 points to help the Lady Cat basketball team cut a 19-point deficit to six points. But it was enough, as Pitt Johnstown suffered a 79-66 loss to visiting Tiffin (OH) University, Tuesday night in the Sports Center. The Lady Cats are now 2-8 on the season.
Once again, Pitt Johnstown fell behind early as Tiffin opened up a 19-point lead with 5:57 to play in the first half, before taking a 44-29 halftime lead. The Dragons increased the lead to 51-32 just two minutes into the second half. That's when the Lady Cats began to play. Pitt Johnstown went on a 22-9 run over the next 8:26 to cut the lead to 60-54. However, Tiffin answered and closed out the game with a 19-12 run of their own to secure the 13-point victory.
Britcher and Cale were the only Lady Cats to reach double figures in scoring. The pair combined to shoot 14-19 from the field. Britcher went 3-3 from the free-throw and shared the team-high of five rebounds with sophomore guard Chrissy Forster (Lewisberry, Pa.). Forster also tallied eight points, including a pair of three-pointers, while Kristin Irwin (Bellefonte, Pa.) chipped in seven points. Cale's five assists paced the Lady Cats.
After shooting 45.8% in the first half, Pitt Johnstown came out in the second half and shot 57.7% to finish the game with a season-best 52.0% (26-50). The Lady Cats also made six of their 14 three-point field goals (42.9%) and all eight of their free-throws. The Dragons cooled off in the second half after shooting an impressive 65.4% in the first half to end the night at 50.9% (29-57). Tiffin also made six three-pointers and went 15-18 (83.3%) from the free-throw line.
Megan Fletcher poured in a game high 26 points, including 19 points on 9-9 shooting in the first half, to lead Tiffin. Leanne Lucius had 15 points and Kylene Spiegle and Megan Jesulaitis chipped in 11 points apiece. Alexis Karel and Fletcher each grabbed six rebounds to help the Dragons raise their record to 8-10 on the year.
The Lady Cats travel to Fairmont State (WV) University on Thursday and to West Virginia Wesleyan College on Saturday for a pair of WVIAC conference games, before returning home to host WVIAC rival Seton Hill University on Thursday, January 17 as part of a doubleheader with the Mountain Cats. The Lady Cats will tip-off at 5:30 p.m., followed by the men’s game at 7:30 p.m.