SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – The Slippery Rock University women's basketball team fell to Pitt-Johnstown, 76-72, in overtime Saturday afternoon at Morrow Field House.

With the loss, Slippery Rock dropped to 6-14 overall and 4-10 in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference, while Pitt-Johnstown improved to 7-14 overall and 4-10 in the PSAC.

After the loss, Slippery Rock sits 2.0 games behind California (Pa.) for sixth place in the PSAC West. The top six teams at the end of the regular season from each division in the PSAC make the PSAC Tournament.

Iyanna Wade led Slippery Rock in with 19 points and seven assists. This was Wade's ninth time leading SRU in scoring this season and 13^th game with five or more assists.

Wade's backcourt partner, Sophia Hook, was SRU's second leading scorer with 15 points, as well as four rebounds, three steals and one block. Hook's three steals were a game-high and the junior's highest total since The Rock's 83-78 victory over Lake Erie College.

Slippery Rock's frontcourt consisted of Kayley Joseph-Bernard (12), Alyssa Gillin (11) and Mairan Haggerty (10), who all scored in double-digits against the Mountain Cats. Joseph-Bernard finished with a double-double as the senior grabbed 13 rebounds to go with her 12 points. Jospeh-Bernard also dished out four assists, blocked two shots and picked up one steal.

Gillin grabbed five rebounds, blocked a career-high six shots, picked up one assist and one steal to go along with her 11 points. Gillin's six blocks were the fourth most in a single-game in Slippery Rock history. Also, Gillin moved into sixth place on SRU's all-time blocks list with 62.

Haggerty rounded out SRU's starters with a career-high four assists and season-high nine rebounds to go with her 10 points.

Claudia Ierullo finished with five points, one rebound and one steal as SRU's main contributor off the bench.

This was the second time this season that Slippery Rock had five players score in double-figures.

Slippery Rock and Pitt-Johnstown played a closely contested first half that saw the Mountain Cats lead by one point at the end of the first quarter (16-15) and five points heading into halftime (33-28).

Things looked dire for The Rock when Pitt-Johnstown opened up a 10-point lead (38-28) at the 7:55 point of the third quarter. SRU was able to bring the game to a two-point gap (49-47) with 1:38 left in the quarter, but UPJ responded with six-straight points to end the frame.

Slippery Rock scored 10 of the first 12 points of the fourth quarter, tying the game, 57-57, with 4:15 left in the frame. Wade accounted for six of teh 10 points in the run.

Neither side could extend its lead more than a possession for the rest of the quarter, but The Rock found themselves down three points with under a minute to play. Joseph-Bernard then banked in a 3-pointer from the wing to tie the game, 64-64.

After a basket on the other end, Wade was fouled with 21 seconds to play. The rookie sunk both shots from the line, once again tying the game, 66-66. Slippery Rock turned over Pitt-Johnstown on its final possession of regulation, sending the game into overtime.

The two teams traded baskets in the extra frame, until Pitt-Johnstown took its final lead of the game with 1:58 left in overtime, as UPJ closed out a 76-72 victory.

Slippery Rock ended the game shooting 36.8 percent (25-of-68) from the field overall, 34.6 percent (9-for-26) from the 3-point line and 81.4 percent (13-of-16) from the charity stripe. 

Pitt-Johnstown finished the tilt shooting 38 percent (30-of-79) from the floor overall, 20.8 percent (5-for-24) from beyond the arc and 73.3 percent (10-of-15) from the foul line. 

Lexi Margolis and Angel Ezrim scored 44 of Pitt-Johnstown's 76 points (57.9 percent). Liv West finished the game with a 13-point and 11-rebound double-double as the Mountain final player in double-figures.

Slippery Rock concludes its three-game homestand with a matchup against Clarion 5:30 p.m. Feb. 11 at Morrow Field House. The game against Clarion will be SRU's annual White Out game. Earlier this season, the Golden Eagles won a close tilt against The Rock, 72-67.

Following to Saturday's game, the Slippery Rock athletic department honored several of its most historic figures in school history as part of the PSAC's 75th Anniversary Celebration.
 
In the fall, the PSAC recognized 300 of its most prominent contributors across the categories of the 75 Greatest Female Athletes, 75 Greatest Male Athletes, Made in the PSAC and Distinguished Keystones. The Rock featured 27 individuals among the honorees by the conference.



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