Box Score (HTML)

JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – A career high 28 points from senior Marla Simmons (Lebanon/Cedar Crest) and a combined 37 points from the duo of Jocelyn Ford (Lansing, NY/Lansing) and Taylor Maldonado (Stroudsburg/Allentown Central Catholic) were enough for the Bloomsburg University women's basketball team to outlast Pitt-Johnstown in overtime, 82-73, on Wednesday evening in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) crossover play.

The No. 17 Huskies (7-1, 5-0 PSAC) stretched their winning streak to seven consecutive games by slowing the often explosive offensive attack of Pitt-Johnstown (7-3, 4-2). The Mountain Cats entered Wednesday leading the PSAC in scoring at 86.2 points per game, but were limited to just 36.7 percent shooting from the floor (11-for-30) during the second half as the Huskies rallied from an early deficit.

Pitt-Johnstown led for the majority of the first half, but never by more than six points as the teams remained close through the first period. A layup from Adreana Sadowski (Fleetwood/Brandywine Heights) just before the buzzer gave the Huskies some momentum heading to intermission, trailing 36-33.

Second half action was a back-and-forth affair early, as the teams were not separated by more than four points until the 4:51 mark. Bloomsburg seized its largest lead at 67-60 on a beautiful pass inside from Ford to Simmons and the senior's lay-in appeared to give the Huskies complete control with 3:06 to go.

Bloomsburg's lead remained six at 67-61 with 1:45 remaining when the Mountain Cats roared back. Dominique Smith came away with a steal and a layup, forcing a foul. Smith completed a traditional three-point play to draw to within 67-65.

Ford then made one of two at the line for a 68-65 lead, but the Mountain Cats, the PSAC leader in 3's, struck again from beyond the arc on a shot by Kelsey Sleighter with 36 seconds left to force a 68-68 tie and an extra period.

The Huskies were not deterred by UPJ's late rush, however. Ford immediately gave Bloomsburg the jolt it needed by draining a shot from long range on the first possession of overtime.

Sleighter hit again from beyond the arc for the 71-71 tie, and UPJ grabbed its first lead since the 10:18 mark of the second half on a layup from Olivia McCabe for the 73-71 edge.

Ford responded on the other end with another 3-pointer, though, giving the Huskies a lead they ultimately would never relinquish. The senior continued her strong play down the stretch, hauling in a key defensive rebound and then found Simmons for an easy layup and a 76-73 lead.

Maldonado helped put the game away with a 3-pointer from the corner to stretch the Huskies advantage to 79-73 with 1:03 to go, allowing the defense to secure the victory in the final seconds.

Nicole Carman paced the Mountain Cats with 16 points with Sleighter adding 15 points while Jasmine Harper posted 14 points and nine rebounds.

Maldonado recorded 19 points while Ford tallied 18. Sadowski pulled down 10 rebounds, adding eight points and three blocks. Simmons went 11-for-20 from the floor and was 6-for-7 at the line while adding seven rebounds and three steals in 42 minutes, also a career high.

Bloomsburg shot 44.6 percent from the floor (33-74) despite missing many layup opportunities on the night.

Next up is a matchup of nationally ranked teams as the Huskies welcome No. 25 IUP (9-0, 5-0) to Nelson Field House on Saturday afternoon with tipoff slated for 1 p.m.
 
GAME NOTES: Pitt-Johnstown becomes the first team to reach 60 points against the Huskies since the season-opening 82-66 loss to New Haven ... Wednesday's game is the first to go to overtime for the Huskies since Nov. 17, 2012 when Bloomsburg prevailed, 74-71, at Lincoln (PA) in double OT ... UPJ held a 44-40 edge in rebounding ... Bloomsburg moves into sole possession of first in the PSAC East with West Chester's 69-61 loss at Gannon on Wednesday night ... Nikki Tamanosky (Camp Hill/Cumberland Valley) finished with a season-high seven points, matching the total she had in a win over Edinboro last month ... Maldonado matched her high point total in a Huskies uniform, equaling the 19 points she scored in a victory over Shippensburg on Nov. 22 ... Ford's 18 points are a season-best, bettering the 13 she scored 24 hours earlier at Clarion ... Simmons' previous career high in scoring was 17 points on Nov. 30 at University of the Sciences ... Bloomsburg has won 15 straight true road games.