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Box Score
SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. (Jan. 10) – Behind a season-high 30 points from senior guard
Brooque Williams (Pittsburgh, Pa./Perry) and an 18-point, 15-rebound performance from junior forward
Kayla Smith (Elkins, W.Va./Elkins), the Vulcans closed non-conference play with a 77-57 win at Shippensburg on Sunday in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Crossover play.
The California University of Pennsylvania women's basketball team enters PSAC West play next week with a 10-3 overall record, including a 6-1 mark in road games. Meanwhile, Shippensburg falls to 7-9 this year.
Williams led all players with 30 points after making 13-of-21 attempts from the field and three-of-five from the free-throw line. The All-American guard also posted nine rebounds (four offensive), five assists and four steals against the Red Raiders. Williams, who is averaging 20.5 points per game this season, has scored at least 30 points in a game 10 times in her career.
Smith continued her stellar play on Sunday, collecting her eighth double-double of the season. She scored 18 points on 6-of-13 shooting from the floor and 6-of-10 from the charity stripe. The West Virginia native grabbed a game-high 15 rebounds (12 offensive), registered five assists and posted four steals in the victory over Shippensburg.
Senior guard
Crystal Andrews (Johnstown, Pa./Johnstown/Pitt-Johnstown) joined Williams and Smith in double-figures, finishing with 17 points and adding three assists and three steals. Other than the aforementioned trio, the remainder of the Vulcans combined for only 12 points.
Cal U trailed for almost the entire opening half, including a 25-9 deficit with 6:02 left before the break. However, the Vulcans closed the first half on a 17-2 run capped with back-to-back baskets by redshirt freshman guard
Kiara Brown (Ambrdige, Pa./Ambridge) in only 24 seconds. During the Cal U rally, Shippensburg made just one-of-six shots and committed five turnovers in the last six-plus minutes of the half.
In the second half, the Vulcans eventually took a 32-31 lead on a jumper by Smith with 18:01 remaining. Cal U would maintain its lead despite Shippensburg tying the game three times with the last coming at 11:21-mark, 43-43. The Vulcans quickly worked their lead to eight points before the Red Raiders made it a two-possession game, 54-48, with 7:35 remaining. Cal U responded by mounting a 13-0 run over a span of 3:26 to take a 67-48 lead and seize control of the game.
After struggling from the field in the first half, Cal U rebounded to shoot over 50 percent in the second half to finish the game with a .451 field-goal percentage (32-of-71). The Vulcans shot just 2-of-10 (20.0 percent) from beyond the arc and 11-of-17 (64.7 percent) from the free-throw line. In contrast, Shippensburg made 50.0 percent (20-of-40) from the floor and 81.3 percent (13-of-16) from the charity stripe.
Senior forward Lauren Beckley, who is the Red Raiders' all-time leading scorer, was held to 14 points after entering the game leading the league with 22.3 points per game. She also finished with seven rebounds, three assists and two blocks. Junior Kasey Gardner added 13 points and five assists in the loss.
The Vulcans posted a sizeable 40-23 advantage in rebounds behind 22 offensive rebounds, including 12 by Smith. Cal U forced Shippensburg into 29 turnovers which led to 36 points for the Vulcans.
Cal U returns to action on Wednesday, Jan. 13, when it opens PSAC West play at No. 4 Gannon. The game is scheduled for a 5:30 p.m. start at the Hammermill Center in Erie, Pa. Last year, the Vulcans registered a 64-40 win over the Golden Knights in the Sweet 16 after the two teams split the regular-season series.
