• Box Score

ERIE, Pa. (Feb. 7) – Despite a 29-point effort by junior guard Brooque Williams (Pittsburgh, Pa./Perry), the No. 2 California University of Pennsylvania women's basketball team suffered a 78-74 loss to Gannon University at the Hammermill Center on Saturday in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West action. The loss snaps the Vulcans' 12-game winning streak.

With the loss, the Vulcans drop to 18-3 overall and 7-1 in league play. Meanwhile, the Golden Knights improve to 18-3 overall and 6-2 in divisional action. The contest featured two of the top teams in the NCAA Division II Atlantic Region with Cal U entering play as the No. 1-ranked team in the region and Gannon ranked No. 4.

Williams scored a game-high 29 points on 12-of-23 shooting before fouling out with 1:15 remaining. She also finished with seven rebounds (four offensive), four assists and three steals. In the loss, Williams moved into ninth place in school history with 1,261 career points, surpassing the mark of 1,254 set by Kim Nowakowski (2005-07).

Senior guard Lindsay Johnson (New Springfield, Ohio/Springfield) finished with 13 points behind three three-pointers, while classmate Shaquetta Mance (Flint, Mich./Hamady/Mott C.C.) added 10 points and five rebounds off the bench. Senior guard Crystal Andrews (Johnstown, Pa./Johnstown/Pitt-Johnstown) also collected seven points, five rebounds, five steals and three assists in 28 minutes off the bench.

In the first half, the Vulcans jumped out to a sizeable 23-7 lead with 12:42 remaining following a three-pointer by Johnson. During the opening minutes of the game, Cal U converted 9-of-11 shots from the floor. However, Gannon mounted with a 21-6 rally over the next seven-plus minutes to cut deficit to one point, 29-28, after a pair of free-throws by junior guard Kristina Freeman. The Vulcans expanded their lead to seven points, 35-28, before the Golden Knights countered by scoring eight of the final nine points of the half to enter the break tied at 36-36.

Williams anchored Cal U in the opening half, scoring 17 of the team's 36 points. Both teams shot similar percentages from the field with the Vulcans making 46.7 percent (14-of-30) of their shots, including 4-of-10 (40.0 percent) from beyond the arc. Meanwhile, the Golden Knights shot 44.4 percent (12-of-27) from the field and 5-of-11 from long range (45.5 percent).

Gannon continued its momentum into the second half, allowing Cal U to claim only one lead in the period. After the Golden Knights held a 70-61 lead with five minutes remaining, the Vulcans scored six-straight points to cut the deficit to 70-67 and 3:19 left. Gannon stretched its lead to seven points, 74-67, but Cal U was unable to make it one-possession game as the Golden Knights made all four of their free-throws in the final minute of the game.

In the second half, Cal U struggled from the field (14-of-36; 38.9 percent) and finished the game shooting 42.4 percent (28-of-66) from the field. Meanwhile, Gannon shot 48.9 percent from the floor after making 55.0 percent (11-of-20) of its second-half attempts.

Freeman led Gannon with 26 points after making 12-of-14 free-throw attempts and collected a team-high six rebounds (four offensive). Junior guards Carrie Nolan and Tiffany Crocker added 18 and 11 points, respectively.

The Vulcans out-rebounded the Golden Knights by a 38-31 margin with 21 offensive rebounds that led to 17 second-chance points. Cal U also scored 22 points off turnovers, including 14 fast-break points, against Gannon.

Cal U returns to action on Wednesday, Feb. 11, when it hosts Lock Haven University at Hamer Hall. Tip-off against the Bald Eagles is set for 6 p.m.