SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – The Slippery Rock University women's basketball team benefitted from career-high showings from Regan Atkins (24 points) and Sophia Hook (21) while topping Pitt-Johnstown in a 71-58 victory Monday night at Morrow Field House.
 
The win – SRU's first against a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division opponent of the year – pushes Slippery Rock to 6-7 overall and back up to .500 in conference play at 4-4. The Mountain Cats fall to 2-12 on the year and 0-7 in PSAC competition.
 
SRU overcame a one-point halftime deficit and trailed by as many as five in its 13-point win over UPJ, marking the program's first win over the Mountain Cats in six meetings. Atkins and Hook combined for 45 of SRU's 71 points (63.3 percent), shooting a cumulative 13-of-20 (65.0 percent) that included five 3-pointers from Hook (5-of-9) and four by Atkins (4-of-6).
 
In addition to their scoring, Hook reeled in seven rebounds and added two assists and a steal. Atkins led Slippery Rock with three steals and contributed three rebounds and three assists. Kayley Joseph-Bernard made 50 percent of her shots (6-of-12) for 13 points, eight rebounds, and a squad-high five assists.
 
Alyssa Gillin gave six points to The Rock's offense, matching Joseph-Bernard with an SRU-leading eight rebounds. Tahmala Thorpe registered four points, four rebounds and four assists, while Mairan Haggerty rounded out SRU's scoring with three points, two rebounds and a block.
 
Rebecca Goetz and Anye Washington each tallied one rebound, while Brooklyn Jones dished out two assists.
 
Gillin comprised six points of The Rock's 9-0 opening run, with the other third of the early surge coming courtesy of a Haggerty triple. Within a matter of just a couple of minutes, UPJ eliminated that lead with a silencing 10-0 sprint of its own to grab a 10-9 edge.
 
Three consecutive treys from SRU featuring two from Hook lifted The Rock back to an 18-10 advantage, all within a matter of the first 8:30 of the contest. Slippery Rock maintained its first quarter advantage and took a 20-13 lead into the second period after shooting 57.1 percent from the field (8-of-14) through 10 minutes of play.
 
The sides traded possessions early in the second until both teams went scoreless from the 6:47 mark to the 3:56 tick. It was a 3-pointer from Pitt-Johnstown that reopened the scoring and kickstarted a 9-0 run for the Mountain Cats. The stint gave UPJ a 31-26 lead with 1:28 left in the half, its largest lead of the game. SRU shrunk the deficit to 31-30 by halftime.
 
After going 0-for-9 from 3-point range in the second quarter, Slippery Rock connected on five of its nine 3-point attempts (55.6 percent) in the third quarter. A pair of Joseph-Bernard jumpers sandwiched three 3-balls from Hook and two from Atkins in a period that saw The Rock lead by as many as nine but settle for a 52-48 tilt heading into the fourth quarter.
 
Slippery Rock needed to attempt just six total field goals in the fourth quarter to stave off the Mountain Cats, going 10-for-15 at the foul line to leap out to an eventual 71-58 margin of victory. SRU's defense held UPJ to just 18.2 percent from the field and 0.0 percent from beyond the 3-point arc (0-of-5) through the final 10 minutes (2-of-11).
 
The Rock wound up shooting the best they have in five games, converting 45.3 percent overall (24-of-53) and 37.0 percent from the perimeter (10-of-27). SRU connected on 59.1 percent of its free throw opportunities (13-of-22). Slippery Rock also won both the rebounding (38-35) and turnover battles (12-11).
 
Pitt-Johnstown wrapped up the fray shooting 35.0 percent (21-of-60) on the night. Coming in as the top 3-point shooting team in the PSAC (33.9 percent), the Mountain Cats were held to just 21.7 percent from distance (5-of-23) by The Rock. UPJ also hit 11-of-14 free throws (78.6 percent). Belle Bosch double-doubled on 21 points on 10 rebounds.
 
Slippery Rock will play its first away game in PSAC West competition 5:30 p.m. Wednesday at California (Pa.).





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