ERIE, Pa. (Jan. 28) – Senior guard Kaitlynn Fratz (Accident, Md./Northern Garrett) scored 15 of her game-high 25 points in the first half on Wednesday evening, as the Vulcans posted a 72-46 win at Mercyhurst in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West action.

With the victory, the California University of Pennsylvania women's basketball team improves to 16-3 overall and 13-2 in league play. The Vulcans remain in a two-way tie for second place in the PSAC West standings and sit one game back of division-leading IUP. Meanwhile, Mercyhurst falls to 8-13 this season behind a 5-10 mark in conference action.

Fratz set a season high with 25 points after shooting 9-of-13 from the floor and five-of-six from the free-throw line. She also added six rebounds, three assists and two steals while playing 35 minutes, including the entire first half. Fratz has now scored at least 20 points four times this season and is averaging 15.5 points over the last 11 games.

Fellow senior Emma Mahady (Albury, Australia/Xavier) finished with 13 points, three rebounds, three assists and two steals, while sophomore Miki Glenn (Bridgeport, W.Va./Bridgeport) collected 12 points, five rebounds, four assists and three steals. Freshman Seairra Barrett (Center Twp., Pa./Central Valley) added 11 points, a team-high eight rebounds, three assists and two steals while coming off the bench.

Both teams struggled in the opening five minutes, combining for only six points and six turnovers. The Vulcans then mounted a 13-3 run over six-plus minutes after making five-of-six shots to take a 15-7 lead on a three-pointer by senior Irina Kukolj (Harrisonburg, Va./Harrisonburg) with 10:31 left in the first half. Mercyhurst scored six of the next eight points to cut the deficit to 17-14 before Cal U answered with a 15-3 rally to take a 32-16 lead on a layup by Fratz with 39 seconds remaining before the break. The Lakers snapped a nearly six-minute scoring drought with a three-pointer on the ensuing possession to trail 32-19 at halftime. Cal U forced 14 turnovers in the first half and scored nearly half of its points off turnovers.

The Vulcans started the second half on an 11-5 run to take a 43-24 lead after a pair of free-throws by Fratz with 14:13 remaining. Mercyhurst made its second basket of the second half with 13:57 left to play before Cal U mounted a 14-2 run rally to stretch its lead to 57-28 following a pair of free-throws by Glenn at the 10:30-mark. The Vulcans eventually lead by as many as 31 points, 61-30, before the Lakers cut the deficit 64-42 with 2:16 remaining. Cal U countered with an 8-1 run with baskets by four different players to take a 72-43 lead with 31 seconds left to play.

Cal U finished the game shooting 44.4 percent (28-of-63) from the floor and 78.6 percent (11-of-14) from the free-throw line. Meanwhile, Mercyhurst shot at a 37.0 clip (17-of-46) from the field and 70.0 percent (7-of-10) from the charity stripe. The Vulcans held a 38-29 rebounding advantage and forced 25 turnovers in the victory, scoring 14 second-chance points and 32 points off turnovers.

Sophomore forward Natalie Piaggesi was the lone Mercyhurst player to score in double-digits, finishing with 10 points and four rebounds. Classmate Alex Artise added nine points, two rebounds, two assists and two steals in the loss.

The Vulcans continue PSAC West play on Saturday, Jan. 31, when they host defending-league and regional champion Edinboro at 3 p.m.