• Box Score

CALIFORNIA (Feb. 9) – Senior Stephanie Michael (Morgantown, W.Va./Morgantown) and sophomore Emma Mahady (Albury, Australia/Xavier) both set career highs in points on Saturday afternoon, as the Vulcans earned an 81-73 upset win over No. 6 Gannon at the Convocation Center in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West play.

With the victory, the California University of Pennsylvania women's basketball team improves to 15-6 overall and 11-6 in league play. The Vulcans, who have now clinched a berth in the PSAC Tournament, have won the last three home meetings against the Golden Knights. Meanwhile, Gannon falls to 21-3 this season behind a 15-2 record in conference action.

Michael established a career high with 25 points (17 second half) after shooting six-of-nine from the floor, including five-of-six from beyond the arc, and making 8-of-10 from the free-throw line. She also posted three assists and two steals in the victory. Michael has averaged 18.0 points over the last five games and has registered four 20-point games this season.

Mahady finished with 19 points on 8-of-13 shooting against the Golden Knights. She also collected three assists and two steals while tying her career high with 34 minutes.

Fellow sophomore Irina Kukolj (Harrisonburg, Va./Harrisonburg) posted 13 points and a career-high five steals, while junior Ryah Gadson (McKeesport, Pa./McKeesport) added 10 points off the bench and classmate Kate Seebohm (Millicent, Australia/Millicent) set a season high with eight assists.

Early in the game, Cal U mounted an 11-2 run over three-plus minutes to take a 17-7 lead with 12:00 left in the first half. The Golden Knights later posted a 9-2 rally over nearly four minutes to trim the deficit to 26-25 with 4:19 remaining. Michael answered with back-to-back three-pointers before the Vulcans took a 36-32 lead at the break.

The Vulcans made baskets on their first two possession of the second half to stretch their lead to 41-34 before the Golden Knights cut the deficit to 43-42 with 16:44 remaining. Cal U later mounted a 10-2 run over three-plus minutes to take a 60-50 lead with 9:44 left to play. Midway through the second half, the Vulcans scored six-straight points to extend their lead to 70-56 before the Golden Knights responded with a 10-4 rally to cut the lead to 74-66 with 53 seconds remaining. However, Cal U sealed the victory by making seven-of-eight attempts at the free-throw line in the final minute.

After shooting nearly 60 percent in the second half, Cal U finished the game making 54.0 percent (27-of-50) from the field and 66.7 percent (8-of-12) from beyond the arc. Meanwhile, Gannon shot 59.2 percent (29-of-49) from the floor and 20.0 percent (2-of-10) from long range. The Vulcans scored 31 points off turnovers after forcing the Golden Knights into 25 turnovers.

Junior Jen Papich and sophomore Nettie Blake both scored 20 points for Gannon, while two other players scored in double-digits off the bench. Papich also led the team with eight rebounds, while fellow junior Kelley Sundberg finished with nine assists.

The Vulcans return to action on Wednesday, Feb. 13, when they travel to face IUP at 5:30 p.m.