CLARION, Pa. (Feb. 22) – The California University of Pennsylvania women's basketball team scored over 40 points in the paint on Saturday afternoon while rolling to a 65-45 victory at Clarion in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West action.

With the win, the Vulcans improve to 19-7 overall and remains tied for third in the divisional standings with a 13-7 mark in league play. Cal U has won the last 18 meetings against Clarion, including eight-straight games on the road. Meanwhile, the Golden Eagles fall to 4-23 this season behind a 2-19 record in conference action.

Freshman Olivia Hudson (Altoona, Pa./Altoona) led the team with 16 points behind three-of-seven from beyond the arc. She also posted four rebounds and three blocks while playing 25 minutes off the bench. Hudson is averaging 8.3 points per game this year while scoring in double-digits seven times.

Junior Bianca Jasper (Middletown, Pa./Middletown) finished with 13 points, seven rebounds, seven assists and five steals on Saturday. Freshman Halle Herrington (Philipsburg, Pa./Philipsburg-Osceola) set season highs with seven rebounds, five assists and six steals, plus scored 14 points, at Clarion. Sophomore Brionna Allen (Pittsburgh, Pa./Bishop Canevin) added eight points, eight rebounds (four offensive) and two steals in the victory.

The teams traded the lead a combined six times in the first quarter, which also featured three ties. Cal U scored six-straight points midway through the quarter before scoring the final basket of the quarter at the 1:21-mark to take a 15-12 lead. The Vulcans opened the second quarter on an 8-3 run to take a 23-15 lead on a three-pointer by Herrington with 7:00 left in the first half. Cal U later scored eight-consecutive points to stretch the lead to 31-17 with 3:27 remaining in the quarter and took a 37-22 lead at the break after scoring a pair of baskets in the final 30 seconds.

In the third quarter, the Vulcans held the Golden Eagles without a field goal for over six minutes while mounting an 11-2 run to build a 48-24 lead. Hudson later scored six-straight points before Cal U held a 54-32 lead at the end of the third quarter. The Vulcans eventually led by as many as 27 points, 61-34, after a three-pointer by Hudson with 5:36 left to play. Clarion closed the game on a 9-2 run to work the deficit to 65-45 at the end of the game.

Cal U made over 55 percent in the second quarter and finished the game with a .346 field-goal percentage (28-of-81). Meanwhile, Clarion shot at a 32.6 clip (15-of-46) from the floor in the loss. The Vulcans held a 47-42 rebounding advantage and scored 44 points in the paint, while also forcing 25 turnovers in the victory.

Sophomore Emily Hegedus scored a team-high 14 points on five-of-seven from the floor and four-of-six from the free-throw line, plus paced the team with seven rebounds. Junior Neely Whithead added nine points and six rebounds, while sophomore Haille Hart recorded three blocks off the bench.

The Vulcans return to action on Wednesday, Feb. 26, when they travel to face Mercyhurst in Erie, Pennsylvania, at 5:30 p.m.