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CALIFORNIA (Nov. 27) – Senior forward Kayla Smith (Elkins, W.Va./Elkins) finished with 23 points and 17 rebounds and junior Amy Johns (McKeesport, Pa./McKeesport) added 20 points on Saturday afternoon, as the Vulcans began their two-day Thanksgiving Tournament with a 90-50 win over Wilmington (Del.) at Hamer Hall.

With the victory, the California University of Pennsylvania women's basketball team improves to 2-1 this season. The Vulcans conclude their weekend tournament tomorrow, Sunday, Nov. 28, when they host Molloy (N.Y.) at 3 p.m. Meanwhile, Wilmington remains winless this year at 0-4 overall.

Smith recorded her 46th career double-double despite playing only six minutes in the second half. She finished the game shooting 10-of-17 from the field and three-of-four from the free-throw line. With her 17 rebounds (seven offensive), Smith moved past Hall of Famer Traci Cox into third all-time in school history with 976 rebounds. Smith also collected four blocks and two steals against the Wildcats on Saturday.

Johns posted her second 20-point game of the season, scoring 20 points on 9-of-17 from the floor with a pair of three-pointers. She also registered eight blocks and two assists in the win. Starting guards Danielle Luckett (Chicago, Ill. / James Hubert Blake (Md.)) and Stephanie Michael (Morgantown, W.Va./Morgantown) added 12 and 11 points, respectively, against Wilmington. Michael also finished with five rebounds and three assists.

Cal U built a quick 13-7 lead and then scored 16-unanswered points over a span of 5:24 to take a 29-7 lead with 8:36 left before halftime. The Vulcans expanded their lead to as many as 29 points twice in the first period with the second time coming at the 3:12-mark following a lay-up from Johns. Cal U took a 54-26 lead into the break after scoring 28 points from in the paint and 11 second-chance points on 12 offensive rebounds in the first half.

The Vulcans opened the second half on a 10-2 run to increase their lead to 36 points, 64-28, after a trey by Johns with 17:23 remaining. Cal U stretched its lead to as many as 43 points, 77-34, following a fastbreak lay-up by Smith with 11:15 left in the game. Despite playing only a combined 16 minutes in the second half, Smith and Johns totaled 18 points and 12 rebounds.

After shooting over 57 percent in the first half, the Vulcans finished the game shooting 50.0 percent (38-of-76) from the field and 31.6 percent (6-of-19) from three-point territory. Meanwhile, the Wildcats made only 27.8 percent (15-of-54) from the floor and just 23.1 percent (3-of-13) from beyond the arc.

Behind 17 rebounds by Smith, Cal U held a staggering 57-26 advantage on the glass with 23 offensive rebounds leading to 21 second-chance points. The Vulcans also recorded a season-high 22 assists on 38 field-goals, including a game-high six assists from true freshman guard Ryah Gadson (McKeesport, Pa./McKeesport). Cal U also collected 17 steals and forced Wilmington into 21 turnovers.

Junior Silvia Jankova scored a team-high 14 points in 32 minutes off the bench, while freshman Courtney Coleman finished with 10 points for the Wildcats.

The Vulcans return to action at Hamer Hall tomorrow, Sunday, Nov. 28, when they face Molloy, who dropped a 66-51 contest to Gannon in the other tournament game tonight.