• Box Score

JOHNSTOWN, Pa. (Jan. 11) – The Vulcans allowed a game-winning lay-up in the closing seconds to suffer a 73-72 loss at Pitt-Johnstown on Saturday afternoon in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West action

With the loss, the California University of Pennsylvania women's basketball team falls to 8-6 overall and 2-3 in divisional play. The Vulcans entered play having won eight of their last nine games, including six-straight. Meanwhile, the Mountain Cats improve to 6-9 this season with a 3-2 mark in league action.

Senior forward Elena Antonenko (Moscow, Russia/State University of Physical Education) led the team and tied her career high with 20 points (14 first half) on 9-of-14 attempts from the floor. She also tied for the team lead with five rebounds (four offensive) on Saturday. Antonenko is averaging 17.0 points while shooting 63.6 percent (21-of-33) over the last three games.

Junior Emma Mahady (Albury, Australia/Xavier) finished with 14 points after making 4-of-10 from the field and six-of-eight from the charity stripe. Classmate Chelsea McKnight (Grove City, Ohio/Harvest Prep) added 13 points and three steals, while freshman Miki Glenn (Bridgeport, W.Va./Bridgeport) tallied eight points and four steals.

The first half featured a combined nine lead changes. With the score tied at 7-7, the Vulcans mounted an 8-0 run to take their largest lead of the game at 15-7 with 13:46 remaining. UPJ responded with a 9-2 rally over nearly three minutes to trim the deficit to 17-16 with 11:06 left before the break. The Mountain Cats claimed the lead at the 6:05-mark and the teams traded the lead until UPJ closed the first half on an 11-4 run and held a 42-36 lead at the break.

The Vulcans opened the second half on a 10-2 rally to take a 46-44 lead on a jumper by Mahady with 16:51 remaining. UPJ later tallied seven-straight points to reclaim the lead at 55-50 with 14:18 left to play and maintained the lead for the majority of the second half. Cal U posted an 8-0 run in the closing minutes to take a 69-67 lead on a basket by Mahady with 3:24 remaining. The Mountain Cats tied the game with a pair of free-throws before the Vulcans retook the lead on a jumper by McKnight with 2:07 left to play. UPJ answered with a basket on the ensuing possession to tie the game before Cal U made a free-throw at the 1:10-mark. Both teams missed shot attempts on their next possession before UPJ made the game-winning, baseline lay-up with six seconds left to play.

Cal U shot 50 percent in the second half to finish the game making 41.3 percent (26-of-63) from the floor. However, the Vulcans made just 69.2 percent (18-of-26) from the free-throw line. Meanwhile, the Mountain Cats shot at a 48.3 clip (29-of-60) from the field and 42.9 percent (6-of-14) from beyond the arc. UPJ held a 41-34 rebounding advantage, while Cal U scored 28 points off turnovers.

UPJ sophomore Jasmine Harper recorded a double-double in the win with 16 points and 10 rebounds. Classmate Leah Hansen posted 14 points, while a pair of players added 12 points off the bench.

The Vulcans return to action on Wednesday, Jan. 15, when they host Clarion at 5:30 p.m.