CALIFORNIA (Jan. 17) – In a rematch of last year's Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Championship, the No. 14 Vulcans earned a 62-53 victory over No. 2 IUP at the Convocation Center in divisional action on Wednesday evening.

With the win, the California University of Pennsylvania women's basketball team improves to 16-2 overall behind an 11-1 mark in league play. The Vulcans have now posted a pair of victories over nationally-ranked teams this season (both at home) and the Crimson Hawks marked the highest ranked opponent Cal U has faced since the 2013-14 season. Meanwhile, IUP falls to 15-1 this season and 10-1 in conference action after entering play as just one of two undefeated teams in NCAA Division II.

Senior Shatara Parsons (Harrisburg, Pa./Central Dauphin) and junior Mia Cushon (Raytown, Mo./Raytown South) tied for the team lead with 17 points on Wednesday. Parsons made 8-of-15 from the floor and added 10 rebounds for her sixth double-double of the season, while also collecting three blocks and two assists. Cushon shot 6-of-14 from the field and five-of-seven from the free-throw line and posted four rebounds while playing all 40 minutes.

Freshman Bianca Jasper (Middletown, Pa./Middletown) matched her career high with 14 points behind three-of-four from beyond the arc after making just seven three-pointers all season. She also finished with five rebounds and three assists in 40 minutes against the Crimson Hawks. Sophomore DJ Hahn (Warren, Pa./Warren) added 11 points and five rebounds off the bench, while junior Abbey Sporio (Elizabeth, Pa./Elizabeth Forward) tallied five rebounds, four assists and three steals.

The teams traded the lead four times in the first quarter with neither team taking a lead larger than three points. Cal U closed the quarter with a 16-14 lead before both teams were held scoreless for three-plus minutes in the second quarter. The Crimson Hawks mounted a 14-5 run midway through the quarter after making seven-of-eight from the floor to take a 28-23 lead with 1:22 left before halftime. Hahn then made a three-pointer with 33 seconds remaining to cut the deficit to 28-26 at the break.

Cal U scored the opening five points of the third quarter to take a 31-28 lead on a layup by Parsons at the 6:33-mark. The Crimson Hawks countered with an 11-7 run to reclaim the lead at 39-38 with 2:02 left in the quarter before eventually taking a 44-43 lead at the end of the quarter. The teams traded baskets in the opening minute of the fourth quarter before the Vulcans scored 10-straight points to take a 55-46 lead on a three-pointer by Jasper with 5:22 left to play. IUP eventually snapped a six-minute scoreless drought with a layup at the 2:47-mark, as the Crimson Hawks missed their previous eight shot attempts. The Vulcans were held without a field goal over the last five-plus minutes of the game, as they sealed the victory by going seven-of-eight from the free-throw line in the final 90 seconds.

The Vulcans finished the game shooting 41.1 percent (23-of-56) from the floor and made 10-of-15 (66.7 percent) from the free-throw line in the second half. Meanwhile, the Crimson Hawks shot 42.3 percent (22-of-52) from the field and attempted just seven free-throws. Cal U out-rebounded IUP by a 36-31 margin behind 11 offensive rebounds and also forced 20 turnovers.

Junior Brittany Robinson led IUP with 16 points (all in the first half) on 8-of-12 shooting and classmate Carolyn Appleby finished with 14 points. Senior Megan Smith was limited to a season-low seven points on 3-of-13 attempts after entering play averaging a team-high 18.2 points per game.

Cal U returns to action on Saturday, Jan. 20, when it travels to face Mercyhurst in Erie, Pennsylvania, at 1 p.m.