• Box Score

WEST CHESTER, Pa. (Dec. 1) – In an early meeting of undefeated teams, the California University of Pennsylvania women's basketball team opened Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Crossover play with a 78-66 win at West Chester on Saturday afternoon.

With the victory, the Vulcans improve to 4-0 this season with two-straight double-digit road victories. Cal U has won nine of the last 10 meetings against West Chester with the only loss coming last season. Meanwhile, the Golden Rams fall to 3-1 overall after being selected second in the preseason PSAC East poll.

Senior guard Stephanie Michael (Morgantown, W.Va./Morgantown) scored a team-high 21 points on 8-of-17 attempts from the floor, including three-of-seven from beyond the arc. She also posted four rebounds, four assists and two steals on Saturday. Michael is averaging 16.0 points through four games this year after entering the season with a career average of 5.9 points per game.

Junior forward Ashley Hines (Newark, N.J./Trenton Central) registered her third double-double of the year, finishing with 18 points and 13 rebounds. She made 8-of-14 attempts from the floor while playing 26 minutes off the bench. Sophomore Emma Mahady (Albury, Australia/Xavier) totaled 15 points on 7-of-14 shooting and collected four rebounds and three steals against the Golden Rams. Junior Kate Seebohm (Millicent, Australia/Millicent) tallied seven assists and a career-high five steals in the victory.

Trailing early in the game, the Vulcans scored six-straight points to take a 12-7 lead with 15:32 left in the first half. After West Chester cut the deficit to two points, Cal U mounted a 16-3 run over five-plus minutes to take a 32-17 lead on a jumper by Mahady. Following a basket by the Golden Rams, the Vulcans posted an 8-2 run to stretch the lead to 42-21 on a lay-up by Michael with 2:51 left before the break. West Chester then scored seven-straight points before Cal U took a 44-28 lead into halftime.

In the opening minutes of the second half, West Chester trimmed the deficit to 46-36 before Cal U scored six of the next seven points – all by Hines – to take a 52-37 lead with 13:59 remaining.  The Golden Rams responded by cutting the lead to 10 points before the Vulcans countered with an 11-2 run to take a 65-45 lead with 7:47 left. Cal U maintained its double-digit lead for the remainder of the game, as West Chester managed to trim the deficit to 10 points, 76-66, in the final minute.

The Vulcans finished the game shooting 47.1 percent (32-of-68) from the field, including a season-high 46.7 percent (7-of-15) from beyond the arc. Meanwhile, the Golden Rams made 42.1 percent (24-of-57) from the floor and 41.7 percent (5-of-12) from three-point territory. Cal U held a slim 40-37 rebound advantage and scored 12 fastbreak points after forcing 22 turnovers.

Senior Alex Lennon, a two-time All-PSAC East selection, finished with a team-high 22 points and nine rebounds, while freshman guard Jasmen Clark added 14 points in the loss.

The Vulcans continue league crossover play on the road tomorrow, Sunday, Dec. 2, when they face Cheyney at 1 p.m.