• Box Score

SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. (Feb. 15) – The California University of Pennsylvania women's basketball team led by as many as 22 points on Wednesday evening before posting a 72-64 win over Slippery Rock at Morrow Field House in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West play.

With the victory, the Vulcans improve to 15-8 overall and remain in fourth place in the divisional standings with a 12-7 mark. Cal U currently holds a three-game lead over Mercyhurst with three games left in the regular season for the final playoff spot from the PSAC West. Meanwhile, The Rock falls to 5-18 this season and 2-17 in league play.

After scoring only two points in the first half, senior forward Amy Johns (McKeesport, Pa./McKeesport) finished with a game-high 21 points on 7-of-14 shooting from the floor and 7-of-13 attempts from the free-throw line. She also established a career high with six steals while playing 36 minutes on Wednesday.

Senior Danielle Luckett (Chicago, Ill./James Hubert Blake (Md.)) posted 13 points, including 11 in the first half, and added six rebounds and three steals at Slippery Rock. Junior forward Nakia DeBlanc (Pittsburgh, Pa./Woodland Hills) finished with 11 points off the bench after scoring only six points over the last five games.

The Vulcans jumped out to a 13-0 lead in the opening five-plus minutes of the game with six early points by Luckett. Slippery Rock missed its first five shots from the field and committed six turnovers before making a lay-up with 14:25 remaining. After scoring her 11th point of the half, Luckett was whistled for her second foul of the game with Cal U leading 22-9 and a little over nine minutes left. The Vulcans mounted a 7-0 run late in the first half to stretch their lead to 31-13 after a pair of free-throws at the 4:54-mark. Cal U eventually took a 33-16 lead into break after forcing Slippery Rock into 16 turnovers and not allowing a three-pointer (0-for-10) in the first half.

After five quick points by Cal U in the second half, Slippery Rock countered with a 6-2 run to trim the deficit to 40-22 at the 17:10-mark. The Vulcans answered with back-to-back baskets by Johns and a pair of free-throws to stretch the lead to 22 points, 46-24, with a little under 16 minutes left. The Rock responded with eight-unanswered points before the Vulcans went on a 9-3 rally to claim a 55-35 lead with 10:39 remaining. Trailing 69-53, Slippery Rock mounted a 9-0 rally to cut the lead to 69-62 at the 1:53-mark. Johns then made two free-throws in a pair of trips to the charity stripe to give the Vulcans a 72-61 lead before The Rock missed four-straight shots in the final minute.

Shooting almost 60 percent in the second half, the Vulcans finished the game making 44.6 percent (25-of-56) from the field. In comparison, The Rock shot 43.1 percent (25-of-58) for the game after making only seven field goals in the first half. Both teams struggled from beyond the arc, combining to make only 6-of-35 attempts (17.1 percent).

In the win, Cal U scored 30 points off turnovers and 38 points from inside the paint. The Rock held a 43-30 rebounding advantage behind 17 offensive rebounds in the losing effort.

Freshman D'Asia Chambers led The Rock with 16 points off the bench, while sophomore Jasmine Cooper scored 14 points before fouling out. Junior forward Emilee Vitez led all players with 10 rebounds off the bench.

Cal U continues its road trip on Saturday, Feb. 18, when it travels to face Mercyhurst in Erie, Pa., at 1 p.m. Live stats of the game will be available by clicking here.