• Box Score

CALIFORNIA (Feb. 16) – Senior forward Kayla Smith (Elkins, W.Va./Elkins) collected 10 rebounds to become the all-time leading rebounder in school history on Wednesday night, as the Vulcans cruised to a 69-39 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West victory over Slippery Rock at Hamer Hall.

With the win, the California University of Pennsylvania women's basketball team improves to 17- 6 overall and 8-3 in league play. Meanwhile, Slippery Rock drops to 3-20 this season and 1-10 in the conference. Dating back to the 2002-03 season, the Vulcans have won 19-straight meetings against The Rock.

Smith led three Vulcans in double-figures with 14 points on 6-of-10 from the field and four steals and two blocks to go along with her 10 rebounds. For her career, the two-time All-America finalist has 1,205 rebounds to move past Hall of Famer Sara McKinney (2002-05). The 5-11 forward currently ranks fifth in PSAC history in rebounds, just two shy of tying Mansfield's Deb Schneider (1983-86) for fourth place.

Freshman forward Elena Antonenko (Moscow, Russia/State University of Physical Education) tied a season high with 12 points to go along with five rebounds. Junior forward Amy Johns (McKeesport, Pa./McKeesport) added 11 points and eight rebounds, while junior guard Danielle Luckett (Chicago, Ill./James Hubert Blake (Md.)) and sophomore forward Cynthia Fullard (Morgantown, W.Va./Morgantown) each contributed nine points with Fullard also pulling down six rebounds.

With the score tied, 7-7, an Antonenko jump shot started an 18-2 run by the Vulcans that stretched the lead to 25-9 at the 7:18-mark on a jumper by freshman guard Kate Seebohm (Millicent, Australia/Millicent). Cal U out-scored Slippery Rock over the remainder of the first half, 12-6, to take a 37-15 lead into the break.

Over the first eight-plus minutes of the second half, Cal U used a 14-6 run to stretch the lead to 30 points, 51-21, capped off by an Antonenko put-back at the 11:26-mark. The Vulcans expanded the lead to as many as 33 points, 67-34, on a lay-up by freshman guard Ryah Gadson (McKeesport, Pa./McKeesport) before closing out The Rock, 69-39.

After shooting 47.1 percent (16-of-34) in the first half, Cal U finished the game shooting 40.3 percent (27-of-67) while holding Slippery Rock to just 25.5 percent (12-of-47). The Vulcans posted an impressive 20 assists on their 27 field goals, led by sophomore guard Stephanie Michael (Morgantown, W.Va./Morgantown) who had a career-high six assists while Gadson and Seebohm each contributed four assists. Cal U collected 14 steals off of Slippery Rock's 25 turnovers with Gadson posting a season-high five steals.

Junior Marlynda Harland led The Rock with 15 points behind three treys and senior Grace Palucis added nine points off the bench.

The Vulcans return to action this Saturday, Feb. 19, when they host Gannon at 3 p.m. The game will be the final regular season contest to be played at Hamer Hall, as Cal U hosts “Hail to Hamer.” The game will also be broadcast live on the Pittsburgh CW (Ch. 15/808 Comcast; Ch. 12/712 Atlantic Broadband; Ch. 19/110 Armstrong). Live stats will be available by clicking here.