• Box Score

CALIFORNIA (Dec. 30) – After taking a 14-point halftime lead, the Vulcans earned a 60-55 victory against Davis & Elkins in non-conference play at the Convocation Center on Sunday afternoon.

With the win, the California University of Pennsylvania women's basketball team improves to 7-2 this season with a perfect 4-0 record against West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WVIAC) members. Meanwhile, Davis & Elkins falls to 4-5 overall after entering play on a three-game win streak.

Junior Ryah Gadson (McKeesport, Pa./McKeesport) established a career high and led the team with 14 points off the bench. She made five-of-nine attempts from the floor, including two-of-four from beyond the arc, while playing 18 minutes. Gadson has scored a combined 33 points in the last three games after totaling 24 points in the first six games this year.

Sophomore Emma Mahady (Albury, Australia/Xavier) added 11 points and three rebounds, while senior Stephanie Michael (Morgantown, W.Va./Morgantown) finished with nine points, three assists and four steals. Sophomore Irina Kukolj (Harrisonburg, Va./Harrisonburg) posted eight points and four rebounds while making her second appearance off the bench this season.

Behind a dominating 20-5 run, the Vulcans took a 20-9 lead following a jumper by junior Elena Antonenko (Moscow, Russia/State University of Physical Education) with 12 minutes left in the first half. D&E responded with six-straight points to trim the deficit to 20-15 before the two teams traded baskets. Cal U then mounted a 16-4 rally over eight-plus minutes to take a 38-21 lead on a three-pointer by Kukolj with 30 seconds left before the break. The Senators converted a traditional three-point play in the final seconds, as the Vulcans took a 38-24 halftime lead.

In the start of the second half, D&E registered a 12-3 run to trim the deficit to 41-36 with 13:44 remaining.  After the teams traded baskets, the Vulcans responded with a pivotal 12-4 rally to take a 55-42 lead following a three-pointer by Gadson with 7:41 left to play. D&E countered with a 10-2 run to cut the lead to two possessions, 57-52, before Mahady converted a pair of free-throws to stretch the lead to 59-52 with 56 seconds left. The Senators made a three-pointer on their next possession before Gadson sealed the victory with a free-throw with two seconds remaining, 60-55.

Cal U was limited to shooting just 31.9 percent (22-of-69) from the floor and converted 39.1 percent (9-of-23) from beyond the arc. Meanwhile, D&E made an impressive 53.8 percent (21-of-39) from the field and shot just 22.2 percent (two-of-nine) from long range. The Vulcans were out-rebounded on Sunday, but scored 20 second-chance points after collecting 19 offensive rebounds.

D&E junior Jorden Lykes led the team with 15 points and added seven rebounds, while classmate Alicia Lentz finished with 12 points. Senior Page Turner collected seven assists for the Senators in the loss.

The Vulcans return to Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Crossover play with two road games this weekend, beginning Friday, Jan. 4, at Kutztown, starting at 5:30 p.m.