JOHNSTOWN, Pa. — West Liberty University will look to build on its early-season momentum when the Hilltoppers travel to Pitt-Johnstown for a 1 p.m. non-conference matchup Saturday at the UPJ Sports Center. The meeting marks the first between the former WVIAC rivals since 2013.

West Liberty enters at 2–1 following an 87–81 road win at Ursuline on Wednesday. The Hilltoppers controlled much of the night behind a career outing from guard Bailee Smith, who scored 32 points and hit five 3-pointers.  Anna Lucarelli added 17 points and nine rebounds, while Ana-Isabel Andersson finished with 11 points and five assists.
West Liberty forced 21 turnovers and turned defensive pressure into 23 points, while outscoring the Arrows 44–32 in the paint.

Through three games, West Liberty is averaging 81.3 points per game and shooting 46% from the field, led by Smith's 28.3 points per game, one of the strongest starts in the region. Lucarelli is contributing 19.3 points and 9.0 rebounds, and the Hilltoppers are producing nearly 10 steals per game while maintaining a +2.7 turnover margin.

Pitt-Johnstown (0–3) returns home after opening the season with three losses, including a 62–54 setback Wednesday at Wheeling. The Mountain Cats also dropped games to Frostburg State and West Virginia Wesleyan at last weekend's Jim Crawley Classic.

UPJ is led by Riley Childress (11.0 ppg) and Liv West (10.0 ppg), with first-year contributors developing under second-year head coach D'wan Shackleford-Vickroy.

Saturday's matchup renews a series dormant for more than a decade. The teams last met on Feb. 21, 2013, when West Liberty earned a 98–90 overtime win in Johnstown. The Hilltoppers won five of the final eight meetings before the schools left the WVIAC.

West Liberty will look to continue its offensive rhythm and maintain its strong turnover production in its second road game of the week. UPJ, meanwhile, will seek its first win while debuting at home for the 2025–26 season.

Tipoff is set for 1 p.m. Saturday at the UPJ Sports Center.