CALIFORNIA (Jan. 21) – Behind a three-point play by sophomore Abbey Sporio (Elizabeth, Pa./Elizabeth Forward) with 5.0 seconds left, the No. 6 California University of Pennsylvania women's basketball team earned a 68-66 comeback victory over Mercyhurst in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West play at the Convocation Center on Saturday afternoon. 

With the win, the Vulcans improve to 18-1 on the year and 12-1 in league action. Cal U also moved into a tie for first place in the PSAC West standings with Edinboro, as Slippery Rock upset the Fighting Scots on Saturday. Meanwhile, the Lakers fall to 16-3 overall behind a 11-2 conference mark.

Senior Miki Glenn (Bridgeport, W.Va./Bridgeport) led the team in scoring with 21 points behind shooting 13-of-16 from the free-throw line. She also registered three rebounds, three assists and three steals while playing all 40 minutes. Glenn finished with double-digit free-throws for the third time this season and now leads the league with 119 free-throws this season.

Junior Seairra Barrett (Center Twp./Central Valley) tallied 15 points and tied for the team lead with six rebounds, while Sporio added 12 points (10 second half) and five rebounds.

The teams traded baskets through the opening five minutes before Mercyhurst went on a 7-1 run to take its largest lead of the quarter at 17-9 with 38 seconds left. Senior Lana Doran (Northamptonshire, England/Barking Abbey) ended the run with a three-pointer to cut the Laker lead back to five, while the Lakers answered on a lay-up with two seconds left in the quarter. The Vulcans shot just 25 percent (4-of-16) from the field in the opening quarter and committed six turnovers. Mercyhurst scored the initial four points of the second quarter to take an 11-point lead, their largest of the game, at the 8:35 mark. Cal U answered with six-consecutive points over the next two minutes to cut the lead down to five, capped by a jumper from Barrett. After the Lakers took an eight-point lead with 2:02 left in the half, the Vulcans ended the half on a 7-0 run to head into the break down 29-28.

Mercyhurst opened the second half on a 10-4 run to take a 39-32 lead at the 7:32-mark of the third quarter after hitting their first three field-goal attempts. Cal U cut the lead back to three with a 6-2 run over the next two minutes before Mercyhurst countered with a 9-1 run to match its largest lead of the game at 50-39 with 3:12 left. After cutting the deficit down to 53-46 when the third quarter ended, the Vulcans opened the fourth quarter on a 16-0 run to take their largest lead of the game at 62-53 with 5:02 left in the game, backed by seven points from Sporio. A three-pointer from senior Angela Heintz would start a 9-1 run by the Lakers over the next three minutes to cut the deficit to 63-62 with 1:50 left. The two teams traded lay-ups over the next minute before Mercyhurst took a 66-65 lead after splitting two-straight trips to the free-throw line. A Cal U turnover gave the Lakers possession with seven seconds remaining before Sporio stole the inbound pass and completed a three-point play to seal the win for the Vulcans.

Cal U ended the game shooting a season-low 35.6 percent (21-of-59) from the floor, while Mercyhurst shot at a 51.1 clip (23-of-45). The Vulcans were out-rebounded by Lakers by a 39-30 margin, but forced 31 turnovers that led to 33 points.

Heintz led all players with 21 points and added seven rebounds, while fellow senior Natalie Piaggesi finished with 18 points, seven rebounds and four blocks in the loss.

The Vulcans return to action on Wednesday, Jan. 25, as they close the first round of PSAC West play by facing Clarion at the Convocation Center with tipoff at 5:30 p.m.