• Box Score

LOCK HAVEN, Pa. (Feb. 26) – Senior forward Kayla Smith (Elkins, W.Va./Elkins) scored a season-high 31 points to become only the third Vulcan to eclipse the 2,000-point plateau for her career, as the California University of Pennsylvania women's basketball team closed the regular season with an 81-66 victory at Lock Haven in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West action on Saturday afternoon.

With the win, the Vulcans improve to 11-3 in PSAC West play and will travel to IUP to face the Crimson Hawks in the quarterfinals of the PSAC Tournament. Cal U also improves to 20-6 for the season, solidifying their 10th-straight 20-win campaign. Lock Haven finishes the year with an 11-14 overall record and a 4-10 mark in the league.

Smith recorded her season-high point total behind an impressive 17-of-22 from the free-throw line and 7-of-11 from the floor. For her career, the three-time All-PSAC West performer has amassed a total of 2,017 points and ranks third on the school's all-time scoring list behind only Brooque Williams (2006-10) and Sara McKinney (2002-05). She also collected 11 rebounds (five offensive), four steals and three assists in the win.

Junior forward Amy Johns (McKeesport, Pa./McKeesport) and sophomore guard Stephanie Michael (Morgantown, W.Va./Morgantown) joined Smith in double figures. Johns scored 16 points on 6-of-13 from the field while also collecting five rebounds (three offensive) and recording three assists. Michael added 12 points behind two treys.

Leading 10-8 following two Lock Haven free-throws at the 15:31-mark, the Vulcans used an 11-2 run, capped off by a three-pointer by sophomore guard Megan Kermond (Adelaide, Australia/Unley), to stretch the lead to 11 points, 21-10, with 11:53 remaining in the first half. After junior Sharay Hall hit a trey for the Bald Eagles with 4:34 remaining to cut the Vulcan lead to nine points, 29-20, Cal U closed the half with a 14-4 run, which included 10 points by Smith behind eight free-throws, to head into the break leading 43-24.

Lock Haven began the second half by using a 12-5 run to cut the lead to as close as 12 points with 16:27 remaining on a lay-up by junior Peaches Nesmith before Cal U stretched the lead to 20 points, 59-39, behind an 11-3 run. The Bald Eagles was unable to cut the Vulcan lead to single digits the rest of the way, as Cal U coasted to the victory.

Despite being out-rebounded 48-40, Cal U was able to out-score Lock Haven in the paint by a 36-18 margin. The Bald Eagles used their rebounding advantage to turn their 23 offensive rebounds into 26 second-chance points compared to Cal U's 12 second-chance points. After shooting 45.2 percent (14-of-31) from the field in the first half, the Vulcans finished the game shooting 46.2 percent (24-of-52) and held Lock Haven to just 32.5 percent (25-of-77) for the game.

Cal U now turns its attention to post-season play with the PSAC Tournament scheduled to begin on Tuesday, March 1. The Vulcans will travel to Memorial Field House in Indiana, Pa., to face the Crimson Hawks. During the regular season, the teams split the series with the home team winning each match-up.