THE GAME FACTS
Score:  Pitt-Johnstown 73, Edinboro 68
Records:  Edinboro (14-6,8-5 PSAC West), Pitt-Johnstown (11-11, 7-8 PSAC West)
Location:  Edinboro, Pa. – McComb Fieldhouse
The Short Story:  Edinboro saw its four-game winning streak come to an end as visiting Pitt-Johnstown outscored the Fighting Scots, 23-10, in the final quarter. Edinboro entered the final ten minutes with a 58-50 lead, but a string of nine straight points by UPJ gave the Mountain Cats a 59-58 lead. Edinboro would go up by three points at 64-61 with just over three minutes to play on Jontay Walton's layup, but UPJ would tie the game on a 3-point play by Tori Moreland. Tied at 68-68 with just under a minute left, the Mountain Cats scored the final five points of the game on free throws. Edinboro had three players in double digits, with Walton leading the way with 20, and Ciara Rosten and Michaela Barnes adding 18 points.
 
Box Score:  Click Here
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• The first quarter ended with UPJ holding an 18-17 advantage. Ciara Rosten accounted for nine of Edinboro's points, but Alli McGrath countered with eight for UPJ.
• Edinboro used a late run thanks to turnovers to take an eight-point lead at the half at 41-33. UPJ turned the ball over four times in the final two minutes. The Fighting Scots outscored UPJ, 24-15, in the period, and 12 of the points came on turnovers.
• The Fighting Scots would maintain the lead throughout the third quarter. Three-pointers by Bridgette Shaffer and Michaela Barnes boosted the lead to nine points, the largest of the night, at 51-42, with 4:32 remaining. The Mountain Cats would pull to within four points late in the period, but a pair of baskets by Jontayu Walton, along with a Rosten layup, gave Edinboro a 58-50 lead after three quarters.
• UPJ opened the fourth quarter with nine straight points, seven by Tori Moreland, to take a 59-58 lead with 6:19 left in the half. Edinboro went almost four minutes without scoring, but a pair of Michaela Barnes free throws, plus two by Rosten, made it 62-59 with just under six minutes remaining.
• Edinboro's lead was still 64-61 with three minutes to play, but Moreland's 3-point play would knot the score. The teams were tied at 64, 66, and 68-all before UPJ took the lead for good with 40 seconds remaining in a pair of free throws by Gabrielle Smith. McGrath would make one-of-two free throws after an Edinboro turnover, and a missed shot and another turnover led to two clinching free throws by Smith with 13 seconds to play.

BY THE NUMBERS

• Edinboro was wrapping up a four-game homestand, and saw a four-game winning streak come to an end. The Fighting Scots shot 33.3 percent for the game (23-of-69), including 5-of-24 on 3-pointers, and went 17-of-20 at the line. UPJ, meanwhile, was at 47.1 percent (24-of-51) thanks to a 50.0 percent showing in the second half. The Mountain Cats made 5-of-16 3-pointers and were 20-of-28 at the line.
• The rebound battle was 18-17 at the half in favor of Edinboro, but UPJ would finish with a 45-32 advantage. The Fighting Scots forced 18 UPJ turnovers while committing just eight, and held a 19-6 advantage in points off turnovers.
• Jontay Walton led three players in double figures with 20 points, adding six assists and six steals. Ciara Rosten registered her fifth double-double of the season with 18 points and 10 rebounds, going a perfect 6-of-6 at the line. Michaela Barnes also scored 18 points, going 7-of-8 from the charity stripe.
• Pitt-Johnstown ended with four players in double figures. Gabrielle Smith led the way with 21 points, adding eight rebounds and six assists. She was 11-of-12 at the line. Alli McGrath contributed a double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds, while Tori Moreland had 14 points and Alexis Hartwick 12.

NEXT FOR THE FIGHTING SCOTS

• After concluding a string of four straight games at home, Edinboro now plays three of its next four games on the road. It begins with a rematch of the January 2 meeting with California(Pa.). The Fighting Scots prevailed 99-92 over the 12th-ranked Vulcans that day. The Vulcans are ranked 17th in the latest WBCA Division II Top 25. Tip-off at the Convocation Center is 1 p.m.