• Box Score

MANKATO, Minn. (Nov. 20) – The California University of Pennsylvania women's basketball team nearly erased a late 11-point, second-half deficit, but suffered a 59-56 loss to Minnesota State Mankato on Saturday evening in the second day of the Maverick Classic Tournament.

The loss drops the Vulcans to 1-1 after they won their season-opener last night against Bemidji State (Minn.). Meanwhile, the host Mavericks improve to 2-0 this year.

Senior forward #Kayla Smith# (Elkins, W.Va./Elkins) scored a team-high 17 points, including 15 in the second half, after shooting 5-of-11 from the field and 7-of-13 from the free-throw line. She also collected eight rebounds, two assists and two blocks. Smith is now only one rebound shy of tying Hall of Famer Traci Cox (1990-94) for third place in school history with 960 career rebounds.

Junior guard #Danielle Luckett# (Chicago, Ill./James Hubert Blake (Md.)) established a career high with 14 points on 6-of-10 shooting with a pair of three-pointers. Fellow junior #Amy Johns# (McKeesport, Pa./McKeesport) added eight points and six rebounds, but committed seven turnover and made just 3-of-13 from the floor.

Trailing 54-43 with 5:49 left in the game, the Vulcans mounted an 11-2 run over a four-plus minute span to cut the deficit to 56-54 after a three-pointer by sophomore #Megan Kermond# (Adelaide, Australia/Unley) with 1:59 remaining. During the run, Cal U made four-straight shots from the field and a pair of free-throws while forcing Mankato into three turnovers.

The Mavericks stopped the rally with a traditional three-point play by Ali Wilkinson with only 1:03 left, 59-54. After Johns made one-of-two from the charity stripe with 52 seconds remaining, Mankato worked the clocked down to 21 seconds before committing a turnover. Following a timeout, Cal U missed a pair of shots that led to Smith sinking one-of-two free-throws. The Mavericks failed to extend the three-point lead on their final offensive possession before the Vulcans missed a potential game-tying trey in the closing seconds, 59-56.

For the game, Cal U shot 38.5 percent (20-of-52) from the field and 30.8 percent (4-of-13) from beyond the arc. In comparison, Mankato made 42.1 percent (24-of-57) of its shots and 37.5 percent ( 6-of-16) from three-point territory. Both teams struggled from the free-throw line, as they combined to shoot only 56.7 percent (17-of-30).

The Mavericks out-rebounded the Vulcans by a 41-33 margin and registered 20 assists on 24 field-goals. Cal U collected a total of seven steals after forcing Mankato into 19 turnovers.

The Vulcans return to action this weekend when they host a four-team Thanksgiving Tournament on Nov. 27-28 at Hamer Hall. Cal U opens the tournament against Wilmington (Del.) on Saturday at 5 p.m., followed by Gannon vs. Molloy (N.Y.) at 7 p.m. Live stats for the tournament games will be available by clicking here.