PITTSBURGH -- Gillian Piccolino's career-high 31 points led five starters in double figures as Point Park University women's basketball earned a 92-78 home victory over Shawnee State (Ohio) on Saturday from CCAC-Allegheny. The River States Conference win put the Pioneers at 5-3 overall, 1-1 RSC and ended a three-game skid. 

Piccolino, a native of Pittsburgh and a Keystone Oaks HS grad, had her best game so far since transferring from NCAA DI Kennesaw State (Ga.). She was 9 for 17 from the field, 3 for 6 from long range an also added 10 for 12 at the foul line to surpass her previous high of 23 earlier this year. 

Gabriella Legister, also a transfer from Kennesaw State and a 6-2 center, put up 14 points and a team-high 12 rebounds. Alexis Giles scored 18 points with a couple of made 3-pointers and an 8-for-9 performance on free throws. She was one off her career high. 

Ari Bleda with 11 points, seven rebounds and four assists and Emma Pavelek with 10 points, three assists and 4 for 5 from the floor rounded out the starting five. 

Point Park got right on its scoring average of 92.7 points per game. The effort was a bounce back from a loss at No. 7 Rio Grande to start off the RSC schedule earlier this week. The Pioneers are now off until next Saturday, Dec. 9 at home versus Alice Lloyd (Ky.) for another RSC matchup.

Point Park's biggest offensive output came in the first quarter when it led 27-21 after 10 minutes. A 3-pointer by Piccolino and a drive by Aichata Ballo closed out the quarter. 

The Pioneers pushed the lead to double digits with Piccolino scoring on the inside and Giles making all three on a three-shot fall late in the half. That put Point Park head, 48-37 at the break. Piccolino had 19 at the half. 

Shawnee State got within 68-60 after three quarters. But Point Park started out the fourth quarter on an 11-4 run to stretch out the lead. Ballo hit a 3-pointer and then fed Legister inside for two to cap off that spurt with an 81-66 advantage. 

Point Park's lead got as high as 18 points midway through the fourth. 

Markayla Holland paced Shawnee State with 20 points. Alexia Deaver with 17 points and Amiya Latham with 12 points both came off the bench to knock down 3 of 6 treys a piece. 

Point Park had the edge in rebounds, 45-38. Both teams committed 16 turnovers. Point Park won the free-throw line by 14 points despite the teams getting similar chances from there. The Pioneers were 28 for 37 with SSU going 14 for 34.