PITTSBURGH – Point Park outscored Pitt-Johnstown 11-6 in the overtime period and came away with a 73-68 overtime win on Sunday afternoon at CCAC-Allegheny. With the come-from-behind win in the home opener, the Pioneers remain unbeaten on the year at 2-0.
With UPJ leading 57-49 at the 3:19 mark of the fourth quarter, Point Park's
Camille Fultz scored on four-straight possessions to tie the game at 57-57 with just 1:08 remaining on the clock. Fultz's scoring stretch included three layup and a pair of free throws.
After a stop at the defensive end,
Alexis Giles gave Point Park the lead with 27 seconds remaining in regulation on a layup. However, the PPU lead was short-lived as UPJ's Riley Childress connected on an old-fashioned, three-point play at the other end.
Following a Point Park timeout with 16 seconds to play, Giles drew a foul and connected on a fastbreak layup to give Point Park another lead at 62-60, this time with just 12 seconds to play.
Near midcourt, UPJ's M'Laya Ainsworth drew a foul with under six seconds to play, and she connected at the line to once again tie the game at 62-62.
The game featured six ties and 12 lead changes.
On PPU's final possession, UPJ forced a turnover and the game went to overtime.
In overtime, Point Park scored 10 of the first 12 points to grab an early advantage, with eight of the points coming from the charity stripe.
Lexi Adams went 6-6 from the line during the stretch with Fultz adding a layup and pair of free throws.
From that point, the Pioneers held the lead the rest of the way, with Pitt-Johnstown pulling within a single possession just once at 66-64 with 2:53 to play.
Point Park had four double-figure scorers in the game, led by Fultz with 23 points to go with five rebounds and three steals. Adams chipped in 17 points, seven rebounds and two assists.
Elizabeth Boyd recorded a double-double in the paint for PPU, finishing with 16 points and 12 rebounds. Giles also added 13 points.
Point Park shot 42 percent from the floor (26-of-62) but didn't hit a single 3-point shot in the game (0-8). The Pioneers went 21-of-27 from the foul line. PPU also held a 51-36 advantage on the glass.
UPJ finished just 35 percent from the floor (25-of-71), including 2-of-9 in the overtime period.
Ainsworth finished the afternoon with 15 points to lead UPJ. Childress added 14 points, seven rebounds and six assists.
Point Park returns to action on Wednesday afternoon at Shepherd. The Atlantic Region matchup is set for a 2 p.m. tip in eastern West Virginia. Shepherd is 1-2 on the season.
