JOHNSTOWN, Pa. — A strong fourth-quarter surge wasn't enough for West Virginia State on Tuesday afternoon, as the Yellow Jackets fell 83–79 to Pitt-Johnstown inside the Sports Center. State outscored the Mountain Cats 32–24 in the final period and received big performances from Lillian Jackson and Baylee Goins, but a decisive 28–16 turnover margin proved too much to overcome on the road.

State shot an even 50 percent from the field (27 of 54) and 5 of 11 from three while converting 20 of 23 at the foul line. The Yellow Jackets finished with 30 rebounds, 13 assists, 10 steals and six blocks, but were hurt by 22 turnovers that led to 28 Pitt-Johnstown points. State totaled 32 points in the paint, 16 off turnovers, 11 second-chance points, seven fast-break points and nine from the bench.

Jackson led State with a standout two-way performance, posting 18 points, 10 rebounds, five blocks, four assists and three steals in 33 minutes. Goins added 17 points on 6-of-9 shooting, including 3 of 4 from beyond the arc, while collecting four steals before fouling out. Ahjanae Young supplied 11 points, four assists and four rebounds in 38 minutes, and Latisha Parris chipped in 10 points and three boards while playing 37 minutes.

Imani Hickman provided 14 points and five rebounds, and Kenly Rogers added five points, three rebounds and two assists off the bench. Ellie Clawson knocked down a three in her five minutes, while Philleah Bright added a point and Jennesse Byrd contributed a rebound. Emily Anthony also appeared briefly in the first half.

Pitt-Johnstown shot 45.2 percent overall (28 of 62) and matched State's perimeter accuracy with a 10-of-22 effort from deep. The Mountain Cats went 17 of 19 at the stripe and held a 35–30 advantage on the glass, including 15 offensive boards. UPJ added 18 assists, nine steals and forced 22 turnovers while committing 20 of its own. The hosts scored 32 points in the paint, 28 off turnovers, 12 second-chance points, 20 fast-break points and an overwhelming 55 points from their bench.

State continued its strong offensive rhythm in the second quarter, outscoring Pitt-Johnstown 22–17 to take a 45–33 lead into halftime. Jackson opened the period with a pair of free throws and later found Parris for a transition layup as the Yellow Jackets pushed the margin to 27–21. Young added a three-point play on a driving finish and free throw, and State's defense held firm through a stretch of Mountain Cat foul trouble that included two early infractions on Aubree Price.

Jackson and Young powered State's interior scoring as the Yellow Jackets piled up 10 points in the paint during the frame, with Jackson adding another layup at the 7:47 mark to make it 32–25. State also controlled the glass, grabbing 11 rebounds — including four offensive boards — with Rogers and Young supplying second-chance opportunities. Young scored seven points in the period, highlighted by back-to-back jumpers late in the half to extend the advantage to 41–33.

The Yellow Jackets' defensive pressure generated timely stops, with Jackson and Bright each recording steals and Bright adding a block at the rim. Hickman closed the quarter by knocking down two free throws with 45 seconds left, and Rogers capped the half with a driving layup in the final eight seconds to push the lead to 12. State shot 7 of 12 in the period and 8 of 9 from the line while holding Pitt-Johnstown to six field goals and just four rebounds in the quarter.

The third quarter swung the momentum sharply toward Pitt-Johnstown, as the Mountain Cats caught fire from three and outscored State 18–10 to erase the Yellow Jackets' halftime cushion. Liv West sparked the surge with four made threes in the period, including a transition triple at 7:42 and back-to-back long-range makes at 5:59 and 5:18 that trimmed State's once-12-point lead to 48–45. West added another three at the 4:34 mark, completing a personal 12-point frame that fueled a 16–3 Pitt-Johnstown run.

State struggled to find rhythm offensively, shooting just 4 of 14 in the quarter and going scoreless for nearly three minutes during UPJ's push. Goins briefly halted the run with a transition layup early in the period, and Hickman added a late bucket off an assist from Young to momentarily push the lead back to 50–49. Jackson later scored on a driving layup with 1:16 left to steady the Jackets, but UPJ closed within four on Sophia Ott's layup in the final seconds.

The period was marked by turnovers and empty trips for State, which committed four giveaways and produced only one second-chance point. Meanwhile, UPJ capitalized on extended possessions, grabbing three offensive rebounds and assisting on five of its seven made field goals. By the end of the quarter, the Yellow Jackets' lead had shrunk to 55–51, setting up a tense fourth-quarter finish.

The fourth quarter turned into a heavyweight exchange, with both teams trading leads three times before Pitt-Johnstown closed with a decisive late burst to seal the win. State opened strong, extending its 55–51 edge to a nine-point cushion at 60–51 after Hickman converted an offensive rebound and Goins buried a wing three at 8:48. But the Mountain Cats immediately countered: Childress drilled a transition three, and West scored five straight during a 13–2 run that flipped the score to 64–62 with 5:59 left.

State's offense momentarily steadied behind Jackson and Hickman, who combined to tie the game three separate times in the final five minutes. Jackson's free throws at 4:06 pulled the Jackets within two, and her jumper at 3:30 knotted the score at 66–66. Hickman tied it again at 2:31 on a layup through contact, but Pitt-Johnstown kept answering — first with a Childress three from the right slot, then with a pair of free throws from West as the hosts reclaimed a 68–66 lead entering the final two minutes.

In the closing stretch, UPJ's pressure defense and offensive rebounding created separation. After a sequence of four offensive boards on one possession, Faith King drew a foul and hit both free throws, and West added another deep three with 1:09 remaining to make it 74–70. Goins hit two free throws at the 58-second mark to trim the gap to 74–72, but the Mountain Cats pushed the lead back to six after a fast-break layup by Alyssa Altemus and two more free throws from Childress.

State continued to fight, with Jackson hitting a jumper at :21 and Rogers converting a layup-and-one at :05 to pull within three, 82–79. But Pitt-Johnstown iced it at the line: Childress made her 10th free throw of the quarter just four seconds from the horn, and Jackson secured the final rebound as time expired.

UPJ dominated the frame with 12 points off turnovers, 14 fast-break points and four made threes, outscoring State 32–24 in the stanza to complete the comeback.

WVSU will take the Thanksgiving holiday off, then will open MEC play with a tango against the Concord Mountain Lions on Wednesday, Dec. 3rd at 5:30 p.m.