• Box Score
CALIFORNIA (Jan. 29) – Forwards Amy Johns (McKeesport, Pa./McKeesport) and Kayla Smith (Elkins, W.Va./Elkins) combined for 45 points and 28 rebounds, as the Vulcans outlasted Lock Haven in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West play Saturday evening at Hamer Hall, 66-58.
With the win, the California University of Pennsylvania women's basketball team improves to 14-4 overall and 5-1 in league action. The Vulcans remain in a tie for first place in the PSAC West standings with Edinboro and IUP. Meanwhile, the Bald Eagles drop to 9-8 overall and 2-4 in the conference.
Johns paced the Vulcans with a game-high 27 points, her eighth 20-point game of the season, behind an impressive 13-of-14 from the free-throw line and just 7-of-20 from the floor while facing constant double- and triple-teams. The junior from McKeesport also pulled down 14 rebounds for her fourth double-double of the season (fifth career).
A 5-11 senior from Elkins, W.Va, Smith scored 10 of her 18 points in the second half and shot five-of-nine from the field. The two-time All-America finalist also grabbed 14 rebounds, including 10 in the second half despite picking up her fourth foul with 9:38 remaining.
Redshirt sophomore Audrey Gattoni (Bulle, Switzerland/College du Sud) came off the bench to score a career-high nine points on three-of-seven from beyond the arc. Guards Stephanie Michael (Morgantown, W.Va./Morgantown) and Kate Seebohm (Millicent, Australia/Millicent) each added five points.
Seven minutes into the game, Lock Haven had built a 12-4 lead after the Vulcans shot just 2-of-15 from the floor. Over the next seven minutes, however, Cal U went on a 14-4 run capped off by two free-throws from Smith to take a 21-16 lead. The Bald Eagles closed out the half on a 10-4 run to head into the half with a one point lead, 26-25.
Over the beginning seven-and-a-half minutes of the second half, Lock Haven stretched its lead to five points twice (35-30; 37-32) before a Gattoni three-pointer and a Smith layup tied the game, 37-37, with 11:30 remaining. The two teams traded baskets over the next 10 minutes and Lock Haven took the lead for the final time, 55-54, with 2:58 remaining on a three-pointer by junior guard Sharay Hall. Cal U closed out the game on a 12-3 run started by a Smith layup with 2:45 remaining and capped off by four free-throws by Johns (following a personal foul and a technical on the Lock Haven bench) with four seconds remaining.
The Bald Eagles had four players in double-figures led by sophomore Kacie Hershey's double-double of 10 points and 10 rebounds. Hall had a team-high 11 points, while junior Peaches Nesmith and freshman Kelsey Hall each tallied 10 points.
Cal U returns to action on Wednesday, Feb. 2, when it hosts PSAC West foe Clarion at Hamer Hall at 6 p.m. Live stats will be available by clicking here.
