• Box Score

LOCK HAVEN, Pa. (Jan. 17) – Sophomore forward Kayla Smith (Elkins, W.Va./Elkins) scored a career-high 31 points to help lift the No. 6 California University of Pennsylvania women's basketball team to a 76-61 second-half comeback victory against Lock Haven University at Thomas Fieldhouse on Saturday in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West action.

The Vulcans improve to 2-0 in league play and 13-2 overall after winning 11 of their last 12 games. Cal U also extended its win streak over Lock Haven to 17 games, extending back to the 1999-2000 season. The Bald Eagles fall to 3-12 overall and 0-2 in divisional action this season.

Smith posted a game-high 31 points on 14-of-19 attempts from the floor and three-of-five from the free-throw line. The sophomore forward collected nine rebounds (three offensive), three blocks and three steals against Lock Haven. Smith posted 24 career 20-point games before finishing with 31 points on Saturday.

Despite battling foul trouble in the second half, junior guard Brooque Williams (Pittsburgh, Pa./Perry) posted her seventh-straight and 12th double-double of the season. She finished with 16 points and 13 rebounds (five offensive), along with three assists. Williams, who played the final eight minutes with four fouls and struggled from the field, made 10-of-12 attempts from the free-throw line.

Senior guard Crystal Andrews (Johnstown, Pa./Johnstown/Pitt-Johnstown) and sophomore guard Amber Dubyak (Hastings, Pa./Cambria Heights) each added 10 points, while senior guard Lindsay Johnson (New Springfield, Ohio/Springfield) finished with nine points and five rebounds.

After trailing 39-28 at halftime, Cal U opened the second half on a 20-7 rally over a nine-minute span to take only its second lead of the game, 48-47, with 10:21 left. During the run, the Vulcans forced seven turnovers and made 9-of-19 attempts (47.3 percent) from the floor. Lock Haven evened the score at 50-50 before Cal U sealed the victory with a 14-3 run to take a 64-53 lead with 2:23 remaining. The Vulcans stretched their lead to as many as 15 points, 76-61, when Williams made a lay-up with seven seconds left.

Smith was a pivotal part of the second-half comeback, as she scored 22 of her 31 points on 10-of-11 shooting in the final 20 minutes.

In the first half, the Vulcans struggled with foul trouble and shot just 27.6 percent (8-of-29) from the floor. Cal U took its only lead of the first half at 18-17 with 10:17 remaining after a fast-break lay-up by Dubyak. The Vulcans entered halftime trailing 39-28 and their three leading scorers – Williams, Smith and Johnson – all having two or more fouls.

For the game, Cal U shot 40.3 percent (25-of-62) from the floor after shooting 51.5 percent (17-of-33) in the second half. Meanwhile, Lock Haven finished with a 42.3 shooting percentage (22-of-52) after making 7-of-16 attempts (43.8 percent) from beyond the arc.

The Vulcans held a sizeable 46-19 advantage on the glass, including 18 offensive rebounds that were converted into 17 second-chance points. Cal U also scored 25 points off turnovers against Lock Haven.

Senior guard Laurn Kelshaw led the Bald Eagles with 25 points after making four three-pointers, while sophomore Katie Kendall finished with 13 points.

The Vulcans return to action on Wednesday, Jan. 21, when they travel to face Clarion University for a 6 p.m. contest at the Tippin Gymnasium in Clarion, Pa.