THE BASICS
Score: Gannon 67, at Pitt-Johnstown 64
Records: Gannon (11-4, 10-2 PSAC), UPJ (9-6, 6-5 PSAC)
Location: Johnstown, Pa.  |  UPJ Sports Center
The Short Story: The Gannon women's basketball team managed to hold on for a 67-64 victory over Pitt-Johnstown Wednesday evening at the UPJ Sports Center in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Western Division action. After taking the lead away from the Lady Cats in the second half, the Lady Knights withstood a late rally by the conference's top-offense in the closing minutes. The victory marked the Lady Knights' fourth straight and seventh in eight contests. Senior Nettie Blake (Jersey City, N.J./Marist) led the Lady Knights' offense with 13 points and 10 rebounds to register her sixth double-double of the season and 25th of her career. Senior Candice Hendricks (Randallstown, Md./McDonogh) also added a season-high 12 points.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Trailing 32-28 at the break, Gannon opened the second half on a 15-3 run to take a 43-35 lead over host Pitt-Johnstown with 14:44 left. Junior Amanda Berchtold (Erie, Pa./ Mercyhurst Prep) accounted for five of the points, while Blake added four to the total.
- The Lady Knights pushed their lead to 11 twice on baskets by junior Jennie Thies (Lakewood, N.Y./Southwestern) in the closing 11:17. The final time came on a layup that was setup by freshman McKenna Shives (Struthers, Ohio/Struthers), as the Lady Knights took a 52-41 lead with just over 10 minutes left.
- A three by UPJ's Nicole Carman with 7:06 left in regulation started a 15-6 run for the home squad. The run led to the Lady Cats tying the game at 62-62 with under 1:21 remaining. During the stretch, the Lady Cats connected on 4-of-6 shots from the field and converted both long-range attempts.
- Junior Morgan Neighbors (Westerville, Ohio/Westerville South) gave the Lady Knights a three-point lead, 65-62, after she was fouled on a jumper with 57 seconds remaining. Neighbors was able to pick up the and-one chance on the play to extend the Lady Knights' advantage.
- A layup by the Lady Cats' Jasmine Harper pulled her team to within one, 65-64, with 29 seconds left.
- In the closing 30 seconds, senior Mollie Sebald (Broadview Heights, Ohio/Holy Name) connected on a quick layup fed by Berchtold to put the Lady Knights in the lead 67-64. Missed opportunities by the Lady Knights to seal the win allowed the Lady Cats a final chance to tie the game up.
- Following a defensive board and a UPJ timeout, the Lady Cats' Nicole Carman heaved a long-range attempt that luckily for the Lady Knights did not connect, as the visiting squad held on for the 67-64 victory.
 
GAME NOTES
- Seven Lady Knights scored five or more points in the win with all 10 recording at least one rebound.
- Blake led the Lady Knights with 13 points and 10 rebounds to register her sixth double-double of the season and 25th of her career. In 23 minutes, she tied a season-high three steals.
- Hendricks scored a season-high 12 points and added six rebounds. Hendricks connected on 5-of-8 attempts from the floor. She also recorded a career-best four steals.
- Berchtold added nine points followed by Sebald with eight.
- The Lady Knights controlled the glass with a 40-31 advantage.
- Despite the outcome, Pitt-Johnstown shot 46.8-percent (22-47) from the field. In the second half alone, the Lady Cats shot 64.7-percent from the floor, but only had 17 opportunities. The Lady Knights finished at 39.1-percent (27-69) from the floor.
- The Lady Cats were led by Carman with 24 points and Sleighter with 17.
- The Lady Knights forced 15 steals compared to the Lady Cats' six.
 
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- Gannon improved to 4-22 in the all-time series. The Lady Knights have won three straight against Pitt-Johnstown including a sweep in last year's regular-season series. For the Lady Knights, the win at the Sports Center marked their second in the all-time series.
- Averaging a conference-best 81.6 points per game, the Lady Cats were held to under 70 points for the fourth time this season in 15 games. Six of their games have been decided by less than five points.
- The Lady Cats entered the matchup coming off a scheduled bye with a two-game win streak.
- Blake recorded her 510th career field goal to move into 10th on the program's all-time career list.
- The Lady Knights improved to 2-0 in games decided by less than five points. On Wednesdays, the Maroon and Gold remain a perfect 5-0 this season.
 
UP NEXT
Gannon will enjoy the weekend off with a scheduled bye. The Lady Knights return to action Jan. 21, when the team hosts 22nd nationally-ranked California (Pa.) at the Hammermill Center. The game is set to tipoff at 5:30 p.m.