CALIFORNIA (Nov. 14) – The California University of Pennsylvania women's basketball team opened the year by posting an 81-66 victory over Notre Dame (Ohio) on Friday night at the Convocation Center.

With the win, the Vulcans begin the season at 1-0 overall after losing their opener last year for the first time in over a decade. Meanwhile, the Falcons drop to 0-1 after returning three starters from last year's team.

Senior Emma Mahady (Albury, Australia/Xavier) led the team in scoring and rebounding while playing only 22 minutes. She posted 15 points on 7-of-12 attempts from the field and collected six rebounds in the win. Freshman Seairra Barrett (Center Twp., Pa./Central Valley) finished with 13 points and five rebounds in her college debut off the bench, while senior Irina Kukolj (Harrisonburg, Va./Harrisonburg) tallied 11 points in just 22 minutes. Junior transfer Paige Wright (Fort Wayne, Ind./Northrop) added 10 points off the bench and sophomore guard Miki Glenn (Bridgeport, W.Va./Bridgeport) collected seven points, five rebounds, five assists and eight steals.

The Vulcans opened the game on a 13-4 run after making five of their opening six shots. Notre Dame answered with a 10-4 rally to cut the deficit to 17-14 with 12:34 left in the first half. Cal U countered with a 14-4 run over four-plus minutes to stretch its lead to 31-18 with 8:19 remaining before the break. The Falcons later scored seven-straight points before Mahady posted a pair of baskets in 17 seconds to give the Vulcans a 43-29 lead at halftime.

Early in the second half, Cal U tallied eight-consecutive points to take a 55-35 lead on a jumper by Barrett. The Vulcans maintained a double-digit lead for the remainder of the contest with the Falcons eventually cutting the deficit to 77-64 with a 7-2 run in the closing minutes.

The Vulcans finished the game making 41.7 percent (35-of-84) from the field, while the Falcons shot at a 44.1 percent clip (26-of-59). Cal U finished with a 47-42 rebounding advantage, including 23 offensive rebounds that were converted into 27 second-chance points. The Vulcans forced 27 turnovers in the victory and scored 31 points off turnovers.

Junior guard Martha Nagbe scored a game-high 19 points for Notre Dame and sophomore forward Kelsey Miller registered a double-double off the bench with 16 points and 10 rebounds in just 18 minutes.

Cal U continues play in its home tip-off tournament tomorrow, Saturday, Nov. 15, when it plays MEC preseason-favorite West Liberty at 5 p.m.