Box Score CLARION, Pa. – Despite a career-high 30 points from freshman Kelly Johnson, the Clarion University women's basketball team dropped a 98-81 decision to visiting Pitt-Johnstown in PSAC West play Wednesday night at Clarion's Tippin Gym.
 
Johnson (Pittsburgh/Mt. Lebanon), who is the first Golden Eagle to score 30 in a game since Raven Jones at Lock Haven in February, shot 12 of 17 from the floor and 6 of 8 from the line while adding seven rebounds, six steals and three assists.
 
But Pitt-Johnstown (2-5 overall, 1-2 PSAC West) had five players reach double digits led by 26 points from Kelsey Sleighter, who was 8 of 13 shooting with three triples while adding eight assists and six rebounds. Jasmine Harper (11 points, 13 rebounds) and Nicole Carman (10 points, 12 rebounds) each added double-doubles for the Lady Cats with Kayla DeCrisco scoring 19 points and Leah Hansen 12.
 
Tania Holmes chipped in 12 points and four steals and Emma Fickel had 10 points and four steals for the Golden Eagles (2-3, 1-2).
 
Clarion led 23-22 midway through the first half following a Jones layup, but Pitt-Johnstown went on an 18-1 run fueled by nine points from Sleighter and six from Inaya Stephenson to take a 40-24 lead with 4:52 to go in the half. 
 
The Golden Eagles got back to within 13, 47-34, at halftime before Pitt-Johnstown took the lead to 21, 55-34, in the early part of the second half.
 
But Clarion fought back using a 10-3 run behind five points from Johnson to get back within nine, 80-71, with 6:07 to play.
 
But the Lady Cats answered with a 10-0 spurt to put the game away.
 
Clarion returns to action at 6 p.m. Dec. 14 when it travels to Wheeling Jesuit.