CALIFORNIA (Nov. 10) – Redshirt senior forward Seairra Barrett (Center Twp., Pa./Central Valley) set a career high with 41 points on Saturday evening, as the Vulcans opened the year with an 84-68 victory against West Liberty while hosting a MEC/PSAC Conference Challenge at the Convocation Center.

With the win, the California University of Pennsylvania women's basketball team opens the year at 1-0 for the sixth time under head coach Jess Strom. Meanwhile, the Hilltopers drop to 0-1 after being tabbed fourth in the preseason MEC poll.

Barrett finished with 41 points after shooting 19-of-36 from the floor while playing her first game since March 13, 2017. She also posted seven rebounds (three offensive) and five steals while playing 38 minutes in the season-opener. Barrett is the first player to score 40 points in a game since Kayla Smith registered 42 points at West Virginia State on Nov. 17, 2009.

Senior Jiahna Flood-Francis (Pittsburgh, Pa./West Mifflin) posted 12 points, four rebounds and three steals in the victory. Junior Gina Vallecorsa (Pittsburgh, Pa./Bishop Canevin) added 11 points, three rebounds, two assists and two steals against the Hilltoppers. Sophomore Bianca Jasper (Middletown, Pa./Middletown) led the team with six assists on Saturday.

Cal U scored the initial eight points of the game before West Liberty countered with 13-unanswered points over nearly four minutes to take a 13-8 lead with 3:18 left in the first quarter. The Vulcans snapped the scoreless drought with a layup by Vallecorsa at the 2:47-mark and closed the quarter on an 8-2 run to reclaim the lead at 16-15. The Hilltoppers mounted a 7-2 run early in the second quarter to take a 22-20 lead with 7:35 left before halftime. Cal U responded with seven-straight points to take a 27-22 lead before West Liberty made back-to-back three pointers in just over 30 seconds to retake a 28-27 lead with 4:05 remaining in the second quarter. The Vulcans then rallied off 10-straight points to claim a 37-28 lead and later took a 39-32 lead into the break.

Early in the third quarter, the Vulcans extended their lead to 52-38 following a 13-6 run with Barrett accounting for 11 points in the six-minute stretch. The teams traded baskets for the final three minutes of the third quarter with Cal U holding a 58-46 lead entering the final 10 minutes. The Vulcans scored the opening six points of the fourth quarter before the Hilltoppers rallied off 12-unanswered points to trim the deficit to 64-58 with 5:21 left to play. Cal U countered with eight-unanswered points to stretch the lead to 72-58 at the 3:21-mark of the fourth quarter. The Vulcans later sealed the double-digit win after going five-of-six from the free-throw line in the final 90 seconds.

Both teams finished with similar percentages from the floor and the free-throw line on Saturday. Cal U shot at a 49.1 clip (26-of-53) from the field and converted 83.3 percent (10-of-12) from the charity stripe, while West Liberty posted a .493 field-goal percentage (35-of-71) and made 77.8 percent (14-of-18) from the free-throw line. Each team also recorded 33 rebounds, while the Vulcans scored 40 points off turnovers.

Senior Marissa Brown was highly efficient in the contest, scoring 32 points on 14-of-17 shooting and added 15 rebounds and six blocks. Last year, she earned WBCA All-America Honorable Mention after being the only player in NCAA Division II to finish among the top 10 in scoring and rebounding. Junior Morgan Brunner added nine points and sophomore Audrey Tingle collected eight assists.

The Vulcans continue play at the MEC/PSAC Conference Challenge tomorrow, Sunday, Nov. 11, when they host Charleston (W.Va.) at 3 p.m.