• Box Score

CLARION, Pa. (Feb. 27) – In a preview of this weekend's Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Tournament matchup, the Vulcans withstood a second-half rally to post a 68-65 win at Clarion on Wednesday evening in divisional action.

With the victory, the California University of Pennsylvania women's basketball team finishes the regular season with a 19-7 overall record behind a 15-7 league mark. The Vulcans have won four-straight games and remain fifth in the second edition of the NCAA regional rankings, which were released earlier in the day. Meanwhile, Clarion closes the regular season at 13-15 overall and 9-13 in conference play.

Junior forward Elena Antonenko (Moscow, Russia/State University of Physical Education) set a career high with 20 points, shooting 8-of-18 from the floor and four-of-five from the free-throw line. She also finished with nine rebounds (five offensive) and three blocks against the Golden Eagles. Antonenko has averaged 14.7 points, 5.8 rebounds and 2.3 blocks over the last three games.

Sophomore Irina Kukolj (Harrisonburg, Va./Harrisonburg)also scored a career high on Wednesday, finishing with 16 points after posting 13 points in the first half. She tallied nine rebounds (five offensive) and six steals in the victory. Senior Stephanie Michael (Morgantown, W.Va./Morgantown) added 10 points, while sophomore Emma Mahady (Albury, Australia/Xavier) and junior Ashley Hines (Newark, N.J./Trenton Central) each totaled eight points.

Clarion scored the game's first basket before Cal U scored 11-unanswered points, highlighted by three-straight three-pointers, to take an 11-2 lead in the opening three-plus minutes of the game. The two teams traded baskets before the Vulcans mounted a 17-2 rally to take a 30-13 lead with 3:58 left before the break. During the run, Clarion was held scoreless for nearly six minutes and Antonenko and Hines combined to score 12 of the team's 17 points. The Vulcans later led by as many as 19 points in the first half before taking a 38-21 lead into the break.

The Golden Eagles engineered a 15-5 rally early in the second half to trim the deficit to 47-42 with 12:44 remaining. Cal U countered with an 8-1 run, including six points by Antonenko, in just over two minutes to claim a 55-43 with 10:35 left to play. Clarion answered with a 14-2 rally to tie the game at 57-57 with 5:37 remaining before taking a 59-58 lead on a pair of free-throws at the 4:11-mark. The Vulcans then scored five-straight points before the Golden Eagles made a basket with 1:18 remaining, 63-61. Neither team made a field goal for over a minute before junior Ryah Gadson (McKeesport, Pa./McKeesport) made a three-pointer with 10 seconds left to stretch the lead to 66-61. Clarion countered with a three-pointer on the ensuing possession left before Michael converted a pair of free-throws with three seconds remaining.

Cal U finished the game shooting 36.6 percent (26-of-71) from the floor, including 34.7 percent (8-of-23) from beyond the arc. Clarion made over 70 percent from the field in the second half to finish the game at a 47.5 clip (29-of-61). The Vulcans held a 43-40 rebounding advantage behind 21 offensive rebounds, which led to 24 second-chance points.

Freshman guard Tania Holmes led the Golden Eagles with 19 points, while sophomore Hannah Heeter recorded her 15th double-double of the year with 18 points and 18 rebounds in the losing effort.

Cal U hosts Clarion in the first round of the PSAC Tournament on Saturday, March 2, with tip-off set for 7 p.m. The Vulcans have won three of four post-season meetings against the Golden Eagles, most recently a 60-57 victory in the quarterfinals of the 2009 PSAC Tournament.