• Box Score

BLOOMSBURG, Pa. (Jan. 4) – The California University of Pennsylvania women's basketball team made seven free-throws in the final minute to seal a 77-72 victory at Bloomsburg on Tuesday evening in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Crossover play.

With the win, the Vulcans improve to 7-3 overall after winning three of their last four games. Meanwhile, the Huskies drop to 7-3 this season after making the PSAC Tournament last year for the first time since 2005.

Senior forward Kayla Smith (Elkins, W.Va./Elkins) totaled 19 points and 14 rebounds (five offensive) for her third-straight double-double (seventh of the season). She made five-of-nine attempts from the floor and 9-of-12 from the free-throw line against Bloomsburg. The West Virginia native also collected three steals in the victory.

Junior Amy Johns (McKeesport, Pa./McKeesport) scored 17 points on Tuesday after scoring only a combined 12 points in the previous two games. The 5-10 forward shot 7-of-12 from the field and also tallied five rebounds and two assists versus the Huskies.

Junior guard Danielle Luckett (Chicago, Ill./James Hubert Blake (Md.)) added nine points, while fellow guard Megan Kermond (Adelaide, Australia/Unley) finished with eight points in her first start of the season. Freshmen guards Ryah Gadson (McKeesport, Pa./McKeesport) and Kate Seebohm (Millicent, Australia/Millicent) both posted seven points and three assists in the victory.

After a close start to the game, Bloomsburg mounted a 16-4 rally to take a 26-12 lead with 12:06 left before halftime. The Vulcans responded with an 18-5 run to trim the deficit to 31-30 with 5:40 remaining in the first half. The Huskies eventually took a 41-37 into the break after sophomore guard Dana Wieller made five three-pointers in the opening 20 minutes.

With the Huskies leading by two points midway through the second half, Cal U took the final lead change of the game, 57-56, when Kermond hit a three-pointer at the 9:20-mark. The Vulcans expanded their lead to as many as nine points, 70-61, after Smith made a pair of free-throws with 1:53 remaining. Wieller and the Huskies cut the lead to three points, 75-72, with 14 seconds left before Luckett and Smith each hit a free-throw in the final seconds to seal the win.

After shooting over 50 percent in the second half, Cal U made 47.2 percent (25-of-53) from the floor and 38.9 percent (7-of-18) from beyond the arc on a season-high seven treys. The Vulcans also made a season-best 20 free-throws, finishing the game with a 76.9 shooting percent (20-of-26) from the charity stripe. Meanwhile, Bloomsburg shot at a 45.6 clip (26-of-57) from the field behind an impressive 40.6 percent (13-of-32) from long range, but only had eight free-throw attempts.

The Vulcans held the advantage on the glass for the seventh time this season, out-rebounding the Huskies by a 35-26 margin. With three steals each from Johns and Smith, Cal U collected 11 steals after forcing 19 turnovers by Bloomsburg.

Wieller scored a game-high 27 points after making eight three-pointers in the game, while junior guard Kelsey Gallagher finished with 18 points, four assists and three steals.

Cal U continues PSAC Crossover play on Saturday, Jan. 8, when it hosts Kutztown at 1 p.m. Live stats of the game will be available by clicking here.