CALIFORNIA (Jan. 10) – The No. 10 Vulcans allowed just 14 first-half points and led by as many 24 points before earning a 53-43 win over Pitt-Johnstown in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West action on Wednesday evening at the Convocation Center.
With the victory, the California University of Pennsylvania women's basketball team improves to 15-1 this season and extends its winning streak to 10 games. The Vulcans also remain tied for first place in the divisional standings with a 10-0 record in league play. Meanwhile, the Mountain Cats fall to 7-8 overall behind a 4-6 mark in conference action.
Junior
Mia Cushon (Raytown, Mo./Raytown South) scored a game-high 23 points (15 first half) after shooting 10-of-13 from the field in just 28 minutes. She also collected seven rebounds (four offensive) and four steals on Wednesday. Cushon has posted at least 20 points four times season and leads the team with 7.9 rebounds and 2.9 steals per game.
Senior
Shatara Parsons (Harrisburg, Pa./Central Dauphin) finished with 16 points, six rebounds, four blocks and three steals despite sitting the majority of the fourth quarter. Freshman
Bianca Jasper (Middletown, Pa./Middletown) recorded team highs of five assists and six steals while playing all 40 minutes against UPJ.
The Vulcans scored the initial nine points of the game and held a 15-4 lead at the end of the first quarter, as the Mountain Cats committed nine turnovers and went just 2-of-11 from the floor. Cal U opened the second quarter on an 8-2 run to stretch the lead 23-5 on a layup by junior
Abbey Sporio (Elizabeth, Pa./Elizabeth Forward) with 5:09 left before halftime. UPJ later scored the last five points of the second quarter and trailed 29-14 at the break after making only five field goals and committing 18 turnovers.
Cal U held UPJ scoreless for the opening five-plus minutes of the third quarter, as it stretched the lead to 37-14 on a layup by Parsons. The Mountain Cats managed to trim the deficit to 43-25 before the Vulcans responded with six-unanswered points to take their largest lead of the game 49-25 with 9:47 left in the fourth quarter. Cushon and Parsons both went to the bench with over seven minutes remaining, as UPJ finished the game on a 16-3 run to close the deficit to 53-43.
The Vulcans finished the game shooting 37.3 percent (22-of-59) from the field and were held without a three-pointer after they set a season-high with 10 three-point field goals on Monday. Meanwhile, the Mountain Cats posted a .333 field-goal percentage (15-of-45) in the loss. UPJ held a 39-30 rebounding advantage, while Cal U forced 26 turnovers and scored 22 points in transition.
Freshman Maddie Shanahan led the Mountain Cats with 11 points off the bench and collected six rebounds. Senior Olivia McCabe, who is the only PSAC player averaging a double-double this year, was limited to a season-low five points after making just one field goal in the contest. She led all players with 11 rebounds and added two blocks and three steals.
The Vulcans return to action on Saturday, Jan. 13, when they travel to nearby Greensburg, Pennsylvania, to face Seton Hill in PSAC West play at 1 p.m.
