SCORE: at Gannon 78, Pitt-Johnstown 64
RECORDS: Gannon 9-3, 7-1 PSAC | UPJ 6-6, 3-4 PSAC
LOCATION: Erie, Pa. – Hammermill Center
The Short Story: The Gannon women's basketball closed out the month of December with a perfect 5-0 record after defeating Pitt-Johnstown, 78-64, in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Western Division matchup Saturday evening in front of a home crowd.

GAMEDAY MEDIA CENTRAL:
Box Score: Click Here
Video Highlights: Click Here
First Half of Action: Click Here
Second Half of Action: Click Here

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Gannon jumped out to a 6-0 lead 1:29 into the game, before Olivia McCabe hit a jumper at the 8:00 mark to put Pitt-Johnstown on the board.
• Laurel O'Barto laid the ball into the net to tie the game at 10-10 with 5:41 left in the first quarter.
• The Lady Knights responded going on a 4-0 run, including back-to-back buckets from junior Brianna Brennan, with 3:40 left on the clock.
• The Lady Cats pulled within one, 15-14, as Kayla DeCriscio hit a three-pointer with 2:46 left in the quarter.
• With 46 seconds left in the first, UPJ tied the game 18-18, but freshman Nicole LaCava hit a layup to give Gannon a 20-18 lead.
• The Lady Knights opened the second quarter going on a 5-0 run, including an opening layup from senior Jennie Thies and a three-pointer from freshman Elissa Ellerbrock, 25-18.
• Gannon took their largest lead of the quarter, 29-21, with 6:51 left in the second, which included again Ellerbrock with back-to-back points.
• UPJ took the lead over Gannon, 33-31, with 3:14 left in the second quarter, as freshman Ana Hollen sank back-to-back three pointers.
• Gannon closed the quarter with an 8-3 run to go into the locker room leading, 39-36.
• The Lady Cats sank a layup to take a 40-39 lead, 20 seconds into the third quarter, before Thies sank back-to-back free throws to give Gannon a 41-40 lead.
• UPJ held the lead for the majority of the third quarter, before the Lady Knights tied the game 49-49 with 1:20 left.
• The Lady Cats Agnese Aramina sank a jumper to give UPJ a 51-49 lead with 34 seconds left, before senior Morgan Neighbors laid the ball into the net to tie the game 51-51.
• The two teams exchanged points, before Thies hit back-to-back free throws to give Gannon a, 55-54 lead with 7:16 left in the game.
• UPJ pulled within two, 58-56, as Olivia Rizzo sank a jumper with 6:16 remaining on the clock.
• The Lady Knights closed out the game going on a 20-8 run, for the 78-64 victory.

GAME NOTES:

• The Lady Knights completed the month of December with a perfect 5-0 mark.
• Neighbors led scorers on both sides with a game-high 22 points, while Thies chipped in with 18 points and eight rebounds.
• Brennan also reached double-digits in scoring, chipping in with 16 points and two blocks.
• Senior Amanda Berchtold recorded seven rebounds and seven assists.
• Gannon shot 45.9 percent (28-61) from the field, and was 85.7 percent (18-21) from the free throw line.
• UPJ was led by Jasmine Harper who tallied a double-double in the game (18 points and 10 rebounds), while Rizzo chipped in with 10 points.
• The Lady Cats shot 37.9 percent (25-66) from the field, and were 66.7 (4-6) from the free throw line.

 
UP NEXT:

• The Lady Knights are off until the New Year, when they travel to Kutztown on Sunday, January 3, 2016.
• The game is scheduled for 1 p.m. and is part of a conference double-header with the men's team.

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