• Box Score
 
SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. (Feb. 1) – Led by a double-double from junior Emma Mahady (Albury, Australia/Xavier) and 40 bench points, the Vulcans picked up an 85-67 win over Slippery Rock in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West action Saturday afternoon at the Morrow Field House.
 
The win improves the California University of Pennsylvania women's basketball team to 12-7 overall and 6-4 in league games. Meanwhile, The Rock falls to 1-9 in PSAC West play and 4-16 overall.
 
Mahady registered her second career double-double, and first of the season, with 22 points and 15 rebounds (four offensive). She finished the game shooting 45 percent (9-of-20) from the field and added two steals, a block and an assist to her final line.
 
Junior Irina Kukolj (Harrisonburg, Va./Harrisonburg) finished with 21 points on 8-of-15 shooting from the floor, while adding six rebounds in the win. Freshman CeCe Dixon (Munhall, Pa./Steel Valley) posted a season-high 11 points, while classmate Miki Glenn (Bridgeport, W.Va./Bridgeport ) chipped in 10 points.
 
Slippery Rock scored twice in the opening 30 seconds, but Cal U responded with a 21-7 run over the next nine minutes to take a 21-11 lead with 10:47 left in the first half. The Vulcans shot 71 percent (10-of-14) during that stretch and received contributions from six different players. Cal U extended its lead to 29-15 after a Kukolj three-pointer with 7:59 remaining in the half, but The Rock rallied back with eight-unanswered over the two minutes to trim the deficit to 29-23 with 6:44 left until halftime. Cal U out-scored Slippery Rock 12-9 down the stretch to take a 31-23 lead into the break.
 
The Vulcans came out of halftime with a 13-5 run to extend their lead to 54-37 with 15:15 remaining in the game, but The Rock responded with a 9-2 run of their own to cut the deficit to 56-46 with 11:58 left in the contest. A trio of Cal U baskets, including a three-pointer from Kukolj, extended the lead to 63-48 with 10:22 left in the game. The Rock battled back with nine-unanswered points to bring them back within single-digits, 63-57, with 7:47 remaining in regulation. The Vulcans bounced right back with seven-unanswered points on their next three possessions, including five from Mahady, to put Cal U up 70-57 with 5:03 left in the game. The Vulcans closed the game out by sinking nine of their 10 shots from the charity stripe and out-scoring The Rock 15-10 to earn the victory.
 
Cal U held a significant edge on the boards, out-rebounding Slippery Rock 50-32, which included 20 offensive rebounds. The Vulcans also received a significant contribution from the bench with Cal U out-scoring Slippery Rock 40-8 in bench points. Both teams shot just under 45 percent from the field, but the Vulcans converted 82 percent of their free throws (14-of-17) compared to the 57 percent (8-of-14) posted by The Rock.
 
Cal U returns to the Convocation Center on Wednesday, Feb. 5, when it hosts Mercyhurst for tip-off at 5:30 p.m.