SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. (Dec. 9) – Junior Mia Cushon (Raytown, Mo./Raytown South) scored a season-high 24 points and senior Shatara Parsons (Harrisburg, Pa./Central Dauphin) registered a double-double on Saturday afternoon, as the No. 11 California University of Pennsylvania women's basketball team secured a 65-56 victory at Shippensburg in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Crossover action. 

With the win, the Vulcans move to 8-1 this season with a 5-0 mark in league play. Meanwhile, the Raiders fall to 1-9 overall behind a 0-5 record in conference action. 

Cushon finished with 24 points after shooting 11-of-16 from the field and added nine rebounds, three assists and four steals in a team-high 35 minutes. She recorded her second 20-point game of the year while converting double-digit field goals for the first time this season.

Parsons posted a double-double of 12 points and 10 rebounds and collected six steals and two blocks in 32 minutes. She also registered her second double-double in the last three contests while forcing at least five steals in three games this season.

Junior Jiahna Flood-Francis (Pittsburgh, Pa./West Mifflin) finished with six points, five rebounds (three offensive) and three steals on Saturday. Freshman Bianca Jasper (Middletown, Pa./Middletown) totaled six points after shooting four-of-six from the line. She added three rebounds and two assists in 23 minutes off the bench against the Raiders.

The Raiders scored the first basket of the game before the Vulcans went on a 9-2 run in the initial four minutes of the contest. During the run, Cal U made four-of-seven from the floor and posted four steals. Shippensburg responded with a 6-2 rally to cut the deficit to 11-10 with 1:51 remaining in the first quarter. The Vulcans extended their lead on three-consecutive layups by Cushon over a two-minute stretch before the Raiders trimmed the deficit with a pair of free-throws to 19-18 with 4:06 left in the second quarter. Cal U closed the half on a 13-4 run with sophomore Gina Vallecorsa (Pittsburgh, Pa./Bishop Canevin) accounting for five points, as the Vulcans took a 32-22 lead into the break. 

Cal U extended the lead to 17 points following a 7-0 rally before Shippensburg countered with a 14-3 run to cut the deficit to 42-36 with 1:44 remaining in the third quarter. During the run, the Raiders forced four turnovers and converted five-of-eight from the field. The Vulcans would get their lead back to double-figures after five-straight points from Cushon and three steals over a five-plus minute span. Both teams traded points in the closing minutes of the game before Shippensburg used a 7-0 rally to trim the deficit to 60-52 with 46 seconds left in the fourth quarter. Cal U then made five-of-seven from the charity stripe to seal the victory. 

The Vulcans finished the game shooting 40.6 percent (24-of-64) from the floor while attempting only two three-pointers. Meanwhile, the Raiders made 40 percent (20-of-50) from the field and 16-of-23 (69.6 percent) from the line. Cal U held a 39-33 rebounding advantage and forced 31 turnovers, which were converted into 35 points. 

Senior Kristin McGeough led three players in double-figures with 13 points on 6-of-10 shooting. She collected seven rebounds and two steals in the losing effort. Classmate Victoria Blackburn recorded 12 points, three rebounds, four steals and two blocks, while fellow senior Ariel Jones tallied 10 points after shooting four-of-four from the line and added three steals.

Cal U returns to action on Sunday, Dec. 17, when it begins a four-game homestand against District of Columbia in Hamer Hall at 1 p.m.