• Box Score

MILLERSVILLE, Pa. (Dec. 21) – Junior Chelsea McKnight (Grove City, Ohio/Harvest Prep) tied her career high with 17 points on Saturday afternoon, as the California University of Pennsylvania women's basketball team extended its winning streak to three games with a 63-53 victory at Millersville in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Crossover action.

With the win, the Vulcans improve to 5-5 overall after opening the year with four-consecutive losses, including a 91-76 loss in the season-opener to Millersville on Nov. 9. Meanwhile, the Marauders fall to 5-5 this season behind a 1-3 mark at home.

McKnight scored 17 points off the bench on Saturday after totaling a combined five points the previous two games. She made five-of-seven from the floor and converted six-of-seven from the free-throw line at Millersville. McKnight also recorded five rebounds while playing 26 minutes, her second-highest total of the year. The Ohio native previously scored 17 points as a freshman at Lock Haven.

Junior guard Kaitlynn Fratz (Accident, Md./Northern Garrett) finished with 13 points behind three-of-seven from beyond the arc despite battling foul trouble in the first half. Freshman Miki Glenn (Bridgeport, W.Va./Bridgeport) added 10 points after making six-of-eight from the charity stripe, while junior Emma Mahady (Albury, Australia/Xavier) posted eight points and seven rebounds. Junior forward Ashley Hines (Newark, N.J./Trenton Central) tied her career high with 15 rebounds (six offensive) and added five steals off the bench against Millersville.

Cal U scored the opening seven points of the game and later scored six-straight points to take a 13-5 lead with 12:35 left in the first half. The Marauders countered with seven-unanswered points to trim the deficit to 13-12 before the Vulcans seized control of the game with 23-9 run over seven-plus minutes to take a 36-21 lead with 1:56 left in the half. Cal U allowed only one field-goal and forced eight turnovers during the lengthy run and McKnight scored eight of her 10 first-half points. The Marauders scored the final points of the first half with 1:43 remaining before the Vulcans took a 36-23 lead into the break.

Millersville trimmed the deficit to 40-31 in the opening minutes of the second half before Cal U responded with a 14-8 run to take its largest lead of the game at 54-39 with 8:38 left to play. The Marauders cut the lead to 57-51 with 3:26 remaining behind a 12-3 run, limiting the Vulcans to only one field-goal during a five-plus minute span. McKnight answered with a three-pointer at the 2:19-mark before Millersville made a basket with 1:11 left in the game. However, the Marauders committed turnovers on its last three possessions and the Vulcans made three free-throws in the final minute to seal the victory.

The Vulcans finished the game shooting 34.5 percent (19-of-55) from the floor, including 43.8 percent (7-of-16) from beyond the arc. Meanwhile, the Marauders made 34.7 percent (17-of-47) from the field and committed 24 turnovers. Cal U held a 43-33 rebounding advantage behind 18 offensive rebounds, which were converted into 15 second-chance points.

Sophomore Yasmin Cooper led the Marauders with 13 points and eight rebounds while coming off the bench. Junior Carly Gallagher finished with 11 points and sophomore Celeste Robinson added 10 points while both battled foul trouble.

Cal U is idle for almost two weeks due to the holidays before returning to action with road games on back-to-back days, beginning at Shippensburg on Jan.3.