GREENSBURG, Pa. (Jan. 13) – The No. 10 California University of Pennsylvania women's basketball team held a 10-point lead at the end of the third quarter before suffering a 64-58 loss at Seton Hill on Saturday afternoon in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West play.
With the loss, the Vulcans fall to 15-2 overall behind a 10-1 mark in league action. The loss snapped a 10-game winning streak by Cal U, which also had its 11-game conference winning streak snapped on Saturday. Meanwhile, the Griffins improve to 13-4 this season with an 8-3 record in PSAC play.
Senior
Shatara Parsons (Harrisburg, Pa./Central Dauphin) finished with 19 points and 11 rebounds (three offensive) to record her fifth double-double of the year. She also added four assists, three blocks and five steals while playing all 40 minutes at Seton Hill.
Junior
Mia Cushon (Raytown, Mo./Raytown South) posted 15 points and seven rebounds (five offensive) and classmate
Abbey Sporio (Elizabeth, Pa./Elizabeth Forward) added 13 points, three rebounds, five assists and four steals.
Cal U held a 49-39 lead at the end of the third quarter before Seton Hill scored 12-unanswered points to take a 51-49 lead with 6:25 left in the fourth quarter. The Vulcans tied the score on the next possession before taking a 53-51 lead at the 5:33-mark on a jumper by Cushon. Seton Hill answered with seven-straight points, as Cal U was held scoreless for over three minutes before cutting the deficit to 58-55 with 2:19 remaining. The Griffins held a five-point lead with less than one minute left, as the Vulcans were unable to cut the deficit to less than four points.
The Griffins opened the contest with eight-straight points before the Vulcans countered with eight-unanswered points to tie the score with 4:18 left in the first quarter. Seton Hill held a 13-11 lead at the end of the first quarter before Cal U later posted a 9-2 run to take a 27-23 lead on a three-point play by Parsons with 3:21 remaining before halftime. The Vulcans maintained a 31-30 lead at the break despite being held scoreless for the last two minutes.
The Vulcans started the third quarter on an 11-2 run to stretch the lead to 42-32 at the 6:28-mark. Seton Hill then mounted a 7-3 run to trim the deficit to 45-39 with 2:01 left in the quarter before Cal U scored back-to-back baskets to end the quarter.
Cal U finished the game shooting 39.4 percent (26-of-66) from the floor and was limited to just six free-throw attempts after previously averaging over 21 free-throws attempts per game. Seton Hill posted a .500 field-goal percentage (21-of-42) in the win and converted all 17 free-throw attempts. The Griffins finished with a slight 32-30 rebounding advantage, while the Vulcans scored 40 points in the paint.
Senior Jenna Kaufman recorded a double-double in the victory, finishing with 16 points and 10 rebounds. Guard Cheyenne Trest, who has been named PSAC West Freshman of the Week six times this year, scored 15 points behind seven-of-seven from the free-throw line, while senior Alexandra Hay added with 11 points, nine rebounds and four assists.
The Vulcans return to action on Wednesday, Jan. 17, when they host undefeated and No. 3 IUP at the Convocation Center with tipoff at 5:30 p.m.
