JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – The Mercyhurst women's basketball team fell to Pittsburgh-Johnstown 63-54 in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference play on Saturday.
 
The Lakers were led by Vivian Allison, who contributed 12 points and seven rebounds. Eliza Oswalt added 11 points.
 
Pittsburgh-Johnstown was led by Gabrielle Smith, who contributed 22 points. Olivia McCabe earned a double-double with 16 points and 11 rebounds. Alexis Hartwick added 10 points.
 
Mercyhurst took the lead three times throughout the contest -- going up 2-0 and 4-2 early. The Lakers grabbed an early 2-0 lead from a pair of free throws from Emilee Norris. Pitt-Johnstown's Maurina Nunn tied the action after two good free throws of her own knotting the action 2-2. Stephanie Petery hit a layup two minutes into the first to gain the Lakers their 4-2 lead.
 
Pitt-Johnstown took its first lead of the game on free throws from Smith and widened that gap to 38-28 at its apex early in the third quarter.
 
Off the efforts of Vivian, Lapertosa, and Kori Sidwell, Mercyhurst battled back from the Mountain Cats' 10-point advantage and took the lead one final time. Vivian sank a three pointer and a layup back-to-back to swing the momentum in Mercyhurt's favor, 43-42.
 
Pitt-Johnstown  then scored 10 of the next 12 points to lead 52-46 going into the final quarter of play. The Cats led the rest of the way.
 
Pitt-Johnstown (8-8, 5-6) held a slight edge on the glass, leading rebounds 32-31. Mercyhurst led bench points, receiving 33 points from non-starters compared to the three acquired by Pitt-Johnstown. The Lakers also led second chance points 8-5.
 
Mercyhurst (6-10, 4-6) will play again next on Wednesday when it visits cross-town rival Gannon at 5:30 p.m. in PSAC action.