CALIFORNIA (Jan. 26) – Redshirt senior
Seairra Barrett (Center Twp., Pa./Central Valley) scored 31 points and registered her seventh double-double of the season on Saturday afternoon, as the No. 13 California University of Pennsylvania women's basketball team rallied for a 62-56 win over Mercyhurst in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West action at the Convocation Center.
With the victory, the Vulcans extend their winning streak to seven-straight to improve to 17-1 this season behind an 11-1 mark in league play. Meanwhile, the Lakers drop to 8-11 overall with a 5-7 record in conference action.
Barrett finished with 31 points on 13-of-22 from the floor and five-of-six from the free-throw line. She also collected 10 rebounds (five offensive), three assists and five steals while playing all 40 minutes on Saturday. Barrett scored 19 of the team's 31 points in the first half before she finished with her fifth 30-point game of the season.
Junior
Gina Vallecorsa (Pittsburgh, Pa./Bishop Canevin) added 10 points, seven rebounds and three steals in the victory. Freshman
Brionna Allen (Pittsburgh, Pa./Bishop Canevin) finished with a team-high four assists and two steals in 23 minutes off the bench.
Mercyhurst held a 35-31 lead at halftime and scored six-straight points midway through the third quarter to take its largest lead of the game, 41-33, at the 6:58-mark. The Vulcans answered with seven-consecutive points to trim the deficit to 41-40 on a three-pointer by Vallecorsa with 3:06 left in the quarter. Mercyhurst made a pair of free-throws on the next possession before Cal U eventually took the lead at 45-43 when Barrett converted a three-point play with 39 seconds remaining. The Vulcans scored consecutive baskets early in the fourth quarter to stretch the lead to 49-43 before the Lakers tied the score at 49-49 with 6:44 left to play. Barrett later scored on back-to-back layups to give Cal U a 56-52 lead at the 3:48-mark before the Vulcans took a 62-54 lead after holding the Lakers scoreless for over three minutes.
The Vulcans held an 8-7 lead midway through the first quarter before the Lakers made back-to-back layups to take an 11-8 lead at the 5:21-mark. Mercyhurst later held a five-point lead before taking a 17-16 lead at the end of the quarter, which featured seven lead changes. Barrett scored the opening basket of the second quarter, as the Vulcans took their only lead of the quarter at 18-17. Mercyhurst then mounted an 8-2 run to reclaim the lead at 28-23 with 4:56 left before halftime. The Lakers eventually took a six-point lead before the Vulcans cut the deficit to 31-29 at the 2:46-mark.
Cal U shot 36.8 percent (25-of-68) from the floor and converted 9-of-14 from the free-throw line (64.3 percent). Meanwhile, Mercyhurst posted a .500 field-goal percentage (23-of-46) for the game after making over 60 percent in both the first and second quarters. The Lakers out-rebounded the Vulcans by a 37-31 margin while Cal U collected 15 offensive rebounds and forced 27 turnovers that led to 32 points.
Sophomore Eliza Oswalt registered a double-double in the losing effort, finishing with 18 points on 8-of-18 shooting and 10 rebounds. Classmate Rachel Chessar added 13 points and four rebounds in 30 minutes off the bench, while junior Kori Sidwell finished with nine points and eight rebounds off the bench.
The Vulcans return to action on Wednesday, Jan. 30, when they host Clarion at 5:30 p.m.
