Box Score

RIO GRANDE, Ohio -- Point Park University women's basketball came up short in its chance to clinch a playoff spot Friday night at the University of Rio Grande with a 92-78 loss. But the Pioneers will get another chance at the River States Conference postseason with Saturday's regular-season finale at WVU Tech.

Ja'Nia McPhatter scored 20 points and grabbed eight rebounds to lead four players in double figures for Point Park (18-11, 8-8 RSC), which entered its weekend road trip needing to win one of two games to get into the RSC Tournament starting next week.

Although the Pioneers could not keep up with a strong Rio Grande offense on Friday, they will get another opportunity at WVU Tech. Rio Grande (18-11, 9-7 RSC) had forward Alexis Payne with 27 points to lead six players in double digits as the RedStorm clinched a playoff spot with the win.

There is one playoff spot left in the RSC East Division, of which WVU Tech (18-11, 9-7 RSC) and Point Park (8-8 RSC) will battle it out for the final one in the regular-season finale for both teams. Tipoff is Saturday at 1 p.m. in Montgomery, W.Va. WVU Tech beat Carlow on Friday night, 72-58.

Point Park got out to a 20-13 lead in the first quarter at Rio Grande. The Pioneers were still up, 22-19, after one quarter, but that's when Rio Grande turned things its way. The RedStorm, which ranks fourth in the nation in field-goal offense, got things going with a 22-12 run in the second quarter. That put Rio Grande ahead, 41-34, at the half.

Rio Grande, which had 54 points come in the paint and 50 points off the bench, extended the lead to 65-52 heading into the fourth quarter. In addition on Payne, who was 10 of 18 from the field, Rio Grande also got post production from Jaida Carter with 14 points (5-10 FGs) and Kamryn Conaway 10 points (5-7 FGs).

Kaitlyn Smith scored 10 points for Point Park, including a jumper with 4:47 left that brought the Pioneers within 76-71. Rio Grande pushed the lead back up to 85-75 with some key baskets over the next couple of minutes.

Although McPhatter hit a trey to give Point Park a chance down 85-78 with 52 seconds left, the Pioneers did not score again. Rio Grande made five free throws to ice it. For McPhatter hit was her career-high sixth trey of the game. She was 6 of 9 from distance.

Devon Larkin added 14 points on 7-for-9 shooting for the Pioneers. Shaniya Rivers made it four players in double digits with 10. Baylie Mook contributed eight points, five rebounds and four assists.

Point Park is currently in fifth place in the RSC East with the top four making the playoffs. The Pioneers beat WVU Tech in the earlier matchup this year, 71-54, at home Dec. 3. Drawing even with the Golden Bears at 9-8 RSC would give Point Park the postseason spot given the 2-0 head-to-head matchup.