• Box Score
 
CALIFORNIA (Jan. 29) – Despite a second-straight double-double from senior forward Ashley Hines (Newark, N.J./Trenton Central), the Vulcans were upended by No. 4 Gannon 65-57 in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West action Wednesday afternoon.
 
The loss drops the California University of Pennsylvania women's basketball team to 11-7 overall and 5-4 in PSAC West play. Meanwhile, the Lady Knights improve their league record to 8-1 and 19-1 overall.
 
Hines posted a double-double with 14 points and 14 boards, including nine offensive, while junior Kaitlynn Fratz (Accident, Md./Northern Garrett) led the Vulcans with 18 points. Junior Emma Mahady (Albury, Australia/Xavier) also reached double-figures with 11 points.
 
The Vulcans struggled early from the field through the opening eight minutes and fell behind the Lady Knights 13-2 before a Hines lay-in with 11:42 left in the first half ended a 0-for-11 drought to start the game. Gannon increased its lead to 14 points, 22-8, with 7:25 remaining in the half, but the Vulcans mounted a 17-8 run, including 10-unanswered, to close out the half and cut the deficit to 30-25 entering the break.
 
The Lady Knights increased their lead to nine, 40-31, with 14:15 left in the game, but the Vulcans chipped away at the deficit and pulled within 44-42 on a Hines lay-in with 8:26 remaining in the contest. Each team exchanged baskets over the next three minutes until Mahady gave the Vulcans their first lead of the game, 49-48, on a three-pointer with 4:37 left in the game. Gannon answered with a 9-2 run over the next two minutes to reclaim the lead, but Cal U knocked down a pair of shots to pull back within three, 59-56, with 1:21 left in regulation. However, the Vulcans could not make any of their three attempts in the final minute, allowing the Lady Knights to hold on for the win.
 
The Vulcans recovered after shooting 16 percent from the floor (6-of-37) in the first half to shoot 48 percent (14-of-30) in the second half and finished the game at 29 percent from the field compared to Gannon who shot 54 percent for the game (23-for-43).
 
Cal U held a significant edge on the glass, out-rebounding the Lady Knights 43-35. The Vulcans collected 24 offensive rebounds, but only converted for 14 second-chance points. Cal U also held an advantage in the turnover category, forcing 21 takeaways while committing 14 of its own.
 
Senior Jen Papich, the reigning PSAC West Athlete of the Year, registered a double-double with 21 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Lady Knights to the victory.
 
The Vulcans are back in action Saturday, Feb. 1, for a PSAC West tilt at Slippery Rock. The opening tip is set for 1 p.m.