• Box Score

KUTZTOWN, Pa. (Dec. 2) – Behind a combined 41 points and 23 rebounds from senior guard Brooque Williams (Pittsburgh, Pa./Perry) and junior forward Kayla Smith (Elkins, W.Va./Elkins), the No. 10 California University of Pennsylvania women's basketball team posted an 80-76 victory at Kutztown on Wednesday night in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Crossover play.

With the win, the Vulcans improve to 5-1 overall this year. Under first-year head coach Mark Swasey, Cal U is second in the PSAC in scoring offense (82.0 points/game) and rebounding margin (+12.0 rebounds/game). Meanwhile, the Golden Bears drop to 3-2 this season.

Smith led all players with 22 points after making 8-of-19 attempts from the floor and converting six-of-six from the free-throw line. The leading rebounder in the PSAC, she also grabbed 12 rebounds (seven offensive) and collected three steals in the win.

Williams posted her fourth-consecutive double-double with 19 points and 11 rebounds (four offensive) against Kutztown. Senior point guard Crystal Andrew (Johnstown, Pa./Johnstown) added a season-high 13 points behind four three-pointers, while redshirt junior forward Amy Johns (McKeesport, Pa./McKeesport) finished with seven points, 12 rebounds (five offensive) and three assists.

Early in the game, the Vulcans mounted a 19-9 rally over a span of 6:37 to take a 33-20 lead with 8:58 left in the first half. During the run, Cal U made all nine of its shots with Williams and Smith combining to score 12 points. Kutztown trimmed the deficit to 10 points before Cal U followed with a 13-5 run to take a 46-28 advantage – its largest lead of the game – with 6:11 remaining before the break. After making almost 64 percent of their shots in the first 20 minutes, the Vulcans took a 56-43 lead at halftime.

In the opening six-plus minutes of the second half, the Golden Bears cut the lead to five points, 62-57, with a 14-6 run. Kutztown then worked the deficit down to one point, 73-72, before the two teams traded baskets and Johns hitting a key three-pointer, 78-73, with 1:29 remaining.

For the game, Cal U shot 48.5 percent (32-of-66) from the field and Kutztown made 51.7 percent (30-of-58) of its shots. The Vulcans also tied a season-high with seven three-pointers. With 35 rebounds by Johns, Smith and Williams, Cal U out-rebounded Kutztown by a 37-28 margin. The Vulcans committed a season-low 14 turnovers and collected 23 assists on 32 field-goals in the win.

The Vulcans are idle for the next week before returning to action next Friday, Dec. 11, when they host Shippensburg at 7 p.m. The game will feature two of the top all-around players in the league in Williams and Red Raiders' senior Lauren Beckley, both of who were named PSAC Player of the Years last season in their respective divisions.