CALIFORNIA (Jan. 3) – Behind five players scoring in double-figures, the No. 9 California University of Pennsylvania women's basketball team opened Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West action with an 80-57 win against Pitt-Johnstown at the Convocation Center on Friday evening.

With the victory, the Vulcans improve to 10-2 overall behind a 4-2 record in league play. Meanwhile, the Mountain Cats fall to 7-5 this season with a 2-4 mark in conference action.

Junior Bianca Jasper (Middletown, Pa./Middletown) led the team with 17 points on 5-of-11 from the floor and six-of-six from the free-throw line. She also tallied seven rebounds, six assists and two steals while playing 28 minutes on Friday. Jasper is averaging career highs with 11.5 points, 4.1 rebounds and 4.9 assists per game this season.

Senior Citiana Negatu (Silver Spring, Md./Blake) finished with 11 points on five-of-seven shooting and a season-high seven rebounds (five offensive), while classmate DJ Hahn (Warren, Pa./Warren) scored a season-high 16 points and added eight rebounds in 26 minutes off the bench.

Senior Monica Burns (New Stanton, Pa./Hempfield) posted 14 points behind seven-of-eight from the free-throw line, seven rebounds, two assists and three steals. Sophomore Brionna Allen (Pittsburgh, Pa./Bishop Canevin) registered seven rebounds, three assists and five steals and fellow sophomore Shauna Harrison (Sheffield, England/Myerscough) added 12 points in the win.

Cal U scored the opening eight points of the game, as UPJ was held scoreless for nearly five minutes. The Mountain Cats cut the deficit to 8-7 before the Vulcans rallied off 12-unanswered points, including seven by Hahn, to take a 20-7 lead with 37 seconds left in the first quarter. Cal U opened the second quarter on an 8-4 run to take a 28-13 lead on a layup by Harrison at the 6:43-mark. The Mountain Cats then scored six-straight points before the Vulcans stretched the lead to 35-20 with 2:18 left before the break. UPJ scored the last six points of the quarter to trim the deficit to 35-26 at halftime.

The Vulcans started the third quarter on an 11-3 run behind eight points by Harrison to take a 46-29 lead at the 6:10-mark. Following a pair of UPJ baskets, Cal U responded with a 12-2 rally to close the quarter with a 58-36 lead. The Mountain Cats posted a 9-3 run early in the fourth quarter to cut the deficit to 63-45 with 5:52 left to play. Cal U then went 15-of-18 from the free-throw line over the final five minutes.

Cal U finished the game shooting 34.3 percent (23-of-67) from the floor and converted 28-of-36 (77.8 percent) from the free-throw line. Meanwhile, Pitt-Johnstown made 38.0 percent (19-of-50) from the field and went 15-of-23 (65.2 percent) from the charity stripe. The Vulcans held a sizeable 52-30 rebounding advantage behind 24 offensive rebounds that led to 19 second-chance points. Cal U also forced 22 turnovers in the victory that were converted into 31 points.

Senior Alli McGrath led the team with 14 points, seven rebounds and four assists in the loss. Junior Mia Oterson finished with nine points and three rebounds, while senior Gabrielle Smith was held to seven points after entering play averaging over 18 points per game.

The Vulcans return to action on Monday, Jan. 6, when they travel to face Slippery Rock at 5:30 p.m.