JOHNSTOWN, Pa. (Nov. 24) – The Tigers were dealt a 66-46 loss by Pitt-Johnstown Tuesday night in non-conference action.
 
The loss sends the Salem International women's basketball team to 0-5 this season, while the Mountain Cats improve to 4-2 overall.
 
Sophomore Toi Brown (Detroit, Mich./Melvindale) led the Tigers with 12 points, with senior Samantha Aiken (Hilton Head Island, S.C./Hilton Head) chipped in eight points and a team-high 10 rebounds. Freshman Jiahna Flood-Francis (Pittsburgh, Pa./West Mifflin) added seven points and five rebounds to round out the Tiger leading scorers.
 
The two teams battled back and forth for the lead throughout the first eight minutes of the game, before Pitt-Johnstown closed the first quarter with six-unanswered points to take a 14-9 lead.
 
Salem International narrowed the gap and reclaimed the lead, 24-23, with 3:02 left in the first half on a Brown jump shot, but the Mountain Cats finished the period on a 10-2 run to take a 33-26 lead into the break.
 
The Tigers were held without a basket for the first several minutes of the second half, before an Aiken jump shot made the score 45-28 with 3:22 to play in the third quarter. Salem International came within 14 points of Pitt-Johnstown in the fourth quarter, but did not rally any further in the loss.
 
The Mountain Cats were tough on the glass, finishing with 24 offensive rebounds and converting for 21 second-chance points.
 
The Tigers shot 40 percent (17 of 43) from the field, compared to the 33 percent (24 of 73) posted by Pitt-Johnstown, but the Mountain Cats converted were more efficient from long range. Pitt-Johnstown finished with nine three pointers, while Salem International only converted 2-of-5 from beyond the arc.
 
The Tigers will take a brief break for the Thanksgiving holiday, before returning to the court on Tuesday, Dec. 1 for a road game at Fairmont State. The opening-tip is set for 6 p.m.