CALIFORNIA (March 13) – Featuring balanced scoring, the No. 14 and top-seeded California University of Pennsylvania women's basketball team recorded an 86-75 victory over eighth-seeded Virginia State in the first round of the NCAA Atlantic Region Tournament at Hamer Hall on Friday night.

With the win, the Vulcans improve to 27-4 this season and advance to the second round of the NCAA Tournament for the second time in the past three years and will face fifth-seeded West Liberty. Meanwhile, the Trojans end the season at 19-10 overall.

Sophomore Miki Glenn (Bridgeport, W.Va./Bridgeport) scored a team-high 21 points on six-of-seven shooting and made 8-of-10 from the free-throw line, while playing 40 minutes for the seventh time in the last eight games and the fourth-consecutive game. She added four assists, three rebounds and one steal and was one of five Vulcans to score in double-figures. Senior Emma Mahady (Albury, Australia/Xavier) scored 17 points on 6-of-15 shooting and added eight rebounds, four steals and three assists. Classmate Kaitlynn Fratz (Accident, Md./Northern Garret) totaled 16 points, five assists and three steals.

Sophomore CeCe Dixon totaled 12 points on 6-of-10 shooting and four rebounds (two offensive) in 26 minutes off the bench, while freshman Seairra Barrett (Center Twp., Pa./Central Valley) rounded out the double-digit scorers with 11 points and five rebounds in only 15 minutes.

The Vulcans opened up the game on a 12-4 run, capped by a three-pointer by Fratz at the 15:16-mark. Cal U then stretched the lead to 22-10 after a pair of free-throws by senior Irina Kukolj (Harrisonburg, Va./Harrisonburg) midway through the first half. Shortly after the free-throws, the Vulcans used a 15-8 run to extend the lead to 37-18 over a nearly seven-minute stretch. Glenn scored 10 of her 21 points during the run and the Vulcans forced seven turnovers. Virginia State cut the deficit lead to 13 points late in the first half before Cal U took a 45-30 halftime lead.

In the second half, Virginia State used an 8-2 run to pull to within 47-38 at the 15:40-mark. The Trojans limited the Vulcans to just one field goal during the nearly five-minute stretch while forcing four turnovers. The Vulcans responded by extending the lead to 42-26 midway through the half after a 15-8 run capped by a layup from Barrett. Cal U then pushed the lead to a game-high 21 points at 69-48 with 8:36 to play after a jumper by Glenn. Virginia State answered back with a 14-5 run to cut the deficit to 72-62 at the 3:42-mark. The Trojans hit four-of-six shots and converted six-of-seven from the charity stripe, while limiting the Vulcans to just 1-of-11 shooting over the course of the 5:18 run. Fratz pushed the lead to 83-68 with 1:31 to play before Cal U earned the win.

Cal U finished the game shooting 42.3 percent (30-of-71) from the floor and connected at a 38.9 clip (7-of-18) from beyond the arc. In comparison, Virginia State shot 54.0 percent (27-of-50) from the field and made 30.0 percent (3-of-10) from beyond the arc. The Trojans out-rebounded the Vulcans by a 30-19 margin, while scored 30 points from inside the paint.

Virginia State senior forward Tiffanie Adair scored a game-high 25 points on 10-of-15 shooting and totaled nine rebounds. Classmates Jessica Lyons and Da'Shae Jones added 18 and 10 points, respectively, in the loss.

The Vulcans continue NCAA Tournament play, tomorrow March 14, when they host West Liberty at Hamer Hall with tip set for 7:30 p.m.

Notes:
Cal U recorded its first NCAA Tournament win since 2013 when the Vulcans, as a seventh seed, advanced to the regional championship game as a seventh seed ... Head coach Jess Strom improves to 3-1 in the NCAA Tournament