• Box Score

CALIFORNIA (March 14) – Behind a balanced scoring attack that featured six players in double figures, the Vulcans advanced to the Sweet 16 following a 87-48 victory over the University of Charleston (W.Va.) on Saturday at Hamer Hall, as part of the NCAA Division II Atlantic Regional Tournament.

The California University of Pennsylvania women's basketball team improves to 28-4 overall and 15-0 at home this season. The Vulcans will face Gannon University (26-4) on Monday, March 16, in the Atlantic Regional Championship Game at Hamer Hall with tip-off set for 7 p.m. The third-seeded Golden Knights moved to the Sweet 16 after claiming a 69-65 overtime win against second-seeded Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

During the regular season, the Vulcans and Golden Knights split the season series with the home team winning both games.

Senior guard Lindsay Johnson (New Springfield, Ohio/Springfield) and junior guard Brooque Williams (Pittsburgh, Pa./Perry) each scored a team-high 14 points. Sophomore forward Kayla Smith (Elkins, W.Va./Elkins) registered her seventh-straight double-double, collecting 13 points and 13 rebounds (five offensive). Senior guard Crystal Andrews (Johnstown, Pa./Johnstown/Pitt-Johnstown) also finished with 13 points, while classmate Shaquetta Mance (Flint, Mich./Hamady/Mott C.C. (Mich.)) added 12 points off the bench. Sophomore guard Amber Dubyak (Hastings, Pa./Cambria Heights) rounded out the Cal U scorers in double figures with 11 points and nine rebounds.

With her 14 points, Williams now ranks sixth in school history with 1,484 career points, surpassing the 1,476 points scored by Lisa Scott-Gray (1979-83). She made 6-of-12 attempts from the floor and collected six rebounds and four assists in the victory.

The Vulcans controlled the contest from the opening tip, scoring the game's first points in only three seconds on a lay-up by Williams. After Charleston scored its first bucket of the game, Cal U mounted an 18-0 run over six-plus minutes to seize a 20-2 lead. During the run, the Vulcan defense forced five turnovers and the Golden Eagles missed eight-straight shots. Cal U then stretched its lead to 29 points, 37-8, by out-scoring Charleston by a 17-2 margin.

After taking a 39-12 halftime lead, Cal U expanded its lead to as many as 48 points, 77-29, with 5:31 remaining in the game.

The Vulcans shot over 50 percent in the second half to finish the game with a .452 shooting percentage (33-of-73), including 53.3 percent (8-of-15) from beyond the arc. The Golden Eagles struggled from the floor, shooting just 27.7 percent (18-of-65). Charleston made only 2-of-24 attempts from beyond the arc after hitting 10 three-pointers in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

Cal U held a 57-35 advantage on the glass behind 21 offensive rebounds that led to 17 second-chance points. The Vulcans also scored 38 points from inside the paint and 22 points off turnovers (20 turnovers).

The Vulcans conclude the regional tournament on Monday, March 17, against Gannon at 7 p.m. The winner of the contest advances to the 2009 NCAA Elite Eight in San Antonio, Texas. Cal U has played in a regional championship game four times since 2002.