WEST MIFFLIN, Pa. - The Point Park University women's basketball team downed Daemen College, 77-62, today at CCAC South Gymnasium.  The win marked the fifth straight win of the season for the Pioneers (5-0) as they kept their record unblemished so far this year.  Daemen falls to 2-2 on the young season with the loss.

Daemen, who fell behind after a 10-0 run in the beginning of the first half, brought the game back within four (16-12) off a three ball from freshman Leah McDonell (North Tonawanda, N.Y./Cardinal O'Hara) at the 12:06 mark of the opening stanza. 

The run was short-lived however as PPU used an 16-4 spurt of their own to re-establish control at 32-16 with 7:16 to play in the half.

Daemen scored seven straight points to bring the Point Park lead within single digits, but the Pioneers would take a 44-31 lead into the halftime intermission.

The hosts found their largest lead of the game after a three-pointer from Alexa Xenakis to run their lead up to 20 (53-33) at the 16:59 mark.  After trading baskets for much of the second half, the Wildcats managed cut the deficit to nine off a Raeann Stilwell (Cheektowaga, N.Y./St. Mary's of Lancaster) three-pointer with 4:43 left to go in the game.

Celina DiPietro quickly answered with three-pointer of her own to provide some breathing room and the final margin for the hosts 77-62.

Samantha Weir recorded a double-double with 21 points and 20 rebounds to lead the Pioneers. Weir hit on 6-of-12 from the field, including 9-of-17 from the charity stripe. Carly Forse and Kayla Kiriau were next with 10 points apiece for PPU. The hosts also held a 66-46 advantage in rebounds.

Senior guard Lindsay Stoddard (Limestone, N.Y./Allegany-Limestone) paced the Wildcats as she scored a season-high 19 points and added three assists while McDonell knocked down two three-pointers to chip in 13 points for Daemen.

The game was the 45th all-time meeting between the two former American Mideast Conference rivals.  Point Park has now won four of the last six meetings, but Daemen owns a 30-15 lead in the all-time series.

Daemen returns to action a week from today (Nov. 23) when it hosts Holy Family University for their home opener. Game time is 2 p.m. It will be Amherst Youth Basketball (AYB) Day at Lumsden Gymnasium.  All participants in AYB are invited to attend free of charge when wearing their uniform to the game.  Two AYB teams will play a mini-game at halftime of the Daemen-Holy Family game as well.