SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – The Slippery Rock University women's basketball team produced its highest scoring output of the season and shot above 50 percent from the field, but it wasn't quite enough as Pitt-Johnstown defeated SRU, 88-84, Wednesday night at Morrow Field House.
 
Slippery Rock (8-10, 5-7 PSAC West) finished the game shooting 50.8 percent (30-of-59) from the field overall, 50 percent (9-of-18) from 3-point range and 75 percent (15-of-20) from the free throw line. Defensively SRU forced UPJ into 19 turnovers while committing just 14 turnovers of its own.
 
However, Slippery Rock was unable to overcome Pitt-Johnstown's 41-28 rebounding advantage that included 18 UPJ offensive rebounds, which the Mountain Cats converted into 25 second-chance points. The Mountain Cats (7-11, 3-9 PSAC West) also connected on 13-of-31 3-point attempts. Overall, UPJ shot 43.8 percent (28-of-64) from the field and 90.5 percent (19-of-21) from the free throw line.
 
Reigning Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division Athlete of the Week Lexi Carpenter had another exceptional game, scoring 32 points, passing out 11 assists and making three steals over 39 minutes. Carpenter has scored at least 32 points in three consecutive games, the longest such streak by a Rock player over the last decade.
 
Carpenter was an efficient 11-of-19 from the field and a perfect 8-of-8 at the free throw line. The double-double was her first of the season. Carpenter's 11 assists were the most by a Rock player since Erica Aiello had 11 assists during the 2013-14 season.
 
Mallory Heinle was Slippery Rock's second player in double figures, scoring 15 points to go with a team-high six rebounds.
 
Cassidy Wright connected on a trio of 3-pointers to score nine points while C.C. Dixon and PSAC West Freshman of the Week Brooke Hinderliter chipped in eight points each. Dixon also had three steals. LeeAnn Gibson rounded out The Rock's top performers with five rebounds and two steals off the bench.
 
As has been the case for The Rock's last three games, Wednesday's contest was once again a back-and-forth contest that featured 12 lead changes and 12 ties. Slippery Rock led by nine points at the end of the first quarter, but UPJ countered by scoring 30 points in the second quarter, 21 of which came off of 3-pointers, to even the game at 42-42 heading into halftime.
 
The Rock and Mountain Cats traded baskets for the majority of the third quarter before Gibson hit a jumper at the buzzer to give SRU a 68-66 lead with 10 minutes to play.
 
Pitt-Johnstown jumped out to a six-point lead, 79-73, over the first five minute of the fourth quarter, but Slippery Rock responded with a 7-0 run that gave The Rock an 80-79 lead with 2:49 to play in regulation. The run featured five points from Carpenter.
 
SRU and UPJ continued to trade baskets over the final stages of the game with the Mountain Cats eventually taking an 86-84 lead, but Slippery Rock was able to force a defensive stop and get one final possession with six seconds to play. However, SRU was unable to come up with a game-tying or game-winning basket as UPJ rebounded a missed attempt by Carpenter before making two foul shots with one second left en route to the four-point victory. 
 
Victoria Moreland scored a game-high 33 points and Jaime Tabon registered a double-double of 26 points and 17 rebounds for the Mountain Cats.
 
Five of The Rock's losses this season have been by nine points or less.
 
Slippery Rock will host Edinboro University Saturday at 1 p.m.