• Box Score

CLARION, Pa. (Jan. 25) – Despite forcing 34 turnovers and senior guard Danielle Luckett (Chicago, Ill./James Hubert Blake (Md.)) tying her season high with 22 points, the California University of Pennsylvania women's basketball team suffered a 72-69 overtime loss to Clarion at Tippin Gymnasium in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West play.

With the loss, the Vulcans fall to 11-6 overall behind an 8-5 mark in league action. Meanwhile, the Golden Eagles improve to 5-12 this season with a 4-9 record in conference play. Cal U and Clarion previously played an overtime game during the 2005-06 season with the Vulcans claiming a 64-59 victory at Tippin Gymnasium.

Luckett finished with 22 points on 9-of-23 from the field and four-of-four from the free-throw line. She also led the team with seven rebounds (three offensive), three assists and four steals on Wednesday.

Senior Amy Johns (McKeesport, Pa./McKeesport), who was named PSAC West Athlete of the Week on Monday, posted 15 points while shooting just 6-of-19 from the floor. The 5-10 forward also collected six rebounds against the Golden Eagles. Freshman Emma Mahady (Albury, Australia/Xavier) added nine points and two steals while playing 23 minutes off the bench.

Leading 13-11 early in the game, Cal U scored 10 unanswered points to stretch its lead to 23-11 following a lay-up by Johns with 7:40 left before the break. After a three-pointer by sophomore Ryah Gadson (McKeesport, Pa./McKeesport) at the 6:42-mark, the Golden Eagles mounted a sizeable 17-5 run over six-plus minutes to cut the deficit to 33-32 with 24 seconds left in the first half. Cal U managed a free-throw in the closing seconds to take a 34-32 lead into the break.

The Vulcans opened the second half on an 11-6 run with back-to-back baskets by Luckett to take a 45-38 lead with 12:10 remaining. Trailing 51-44, Clarion scored eight-straight points to claim its first lead of the game since the opening basket at 52-51 with 4:29 left in the game. The Vulcans countered with five-consecutive points by junior forward Nakia DeBlanc (Pittsburgh, Pa./Woodland Hills) to take a 56-52 lead at the 3:01-mark. After Clarion trimmed the deficit to 57-56, Johns made a pair of free-throws with 43 seconds left to give Cal U a three-point lead, 59-56. The Vulcans then missed a pair of free-throws with 10 seconds remaining before the Golden Eagles tied the game by converting their first three-pointer of the game as regulation ended, 59-59.

Cal U scored the first basket of overtime before Clarion went on an 8-0 run to take a 67-61 lead at the 1:54-mark. Luckett and Johns then scored on consecutive possessions to cut the deficit to 67-65 with 1:25 remaining. After a Golden Eagles basket, Luckett made four-straight points to tie the game at 69-69 with 58 seconds left. Clarion then scored three-straight points to take a 72-69 lead with 15 seconds remaining before Cal U missed the potential game-tying three-pointer on the final possession of the game.

Cal U finished the game shooting 35.5 percent (27-of-76) from the field despite shooting just 17.6 percent (3-of-17) from beyond the arc. The Vulcans made three three-pointers in the first half before missing a combined seven treys in the second half and overtime. Meanwhile, the Golden Eagles made 53.8 percent (28-of-52) from the floor and 12.5 percent (one-of-eight) from long range.

The Vulcans were out-rebounded by a 53-31 margin with the Golden Eagles scoring 48 points from inside the paint. Cal U collected a season-high 23 steals and scored 32 points off turnovers.

Freshman forward Hannah Heeter registered a double-double with 22 points and a staggering 25 rebounds (three offensive). Junior Aleya Miller added 16 points and eight rebounds off the bench and sophomore Raven Jones posted nine points, including the game-tying trey at the end of regulation, and six assists.

Cal U returns to action on Saturday, Jan. 28, when it hosts Mercyhurst on Alumni Day at the Convocation Center for a 3 p.m. tip. The game will broadcast live on the Pittsburgh CW. Live stats of the game will be available by clicking here.