ERIE, Pa. (Nov. 14) – The Vulcans closed out play at the Mountain East Athletic Conference (MEC)/Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Challenge by capturing a 63-54 victory over defending-NCAA Atlantic Regional Champion and preseason No. 17 Charleston (W.Wa) on Sunday evening.

With the win, the California University of Pennsylvania women's basketball team improves to 2-0 overall this season. Meanwhile, the Golden Eagles fall to 1-1 this season after claiming the 2021 MEC Championship.

Junior transfer Dejah Terrell (Reading, Pa./Berks Catholic) paced the team with a double-double of 17 points (14 second half) on 7-of-19 shooting and 10 rebounds. She also collected three blocks while playing 36 minutes on Sunday. Terrell was a Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) Third-Team All-American in the 2019-20 season while at Albright (Pa.), a NCAA Division III program.

Fellow junior Brionna Allen (Pittsburgh, Pa./Bishop Canevin) scored 13 points on seven-of-nine from the charity stripe and tallied seven rebounds before fouling out, while classmate Ciaira Loyd (Scranton, Pa./Scranton) posted 10 points, six rebounds and six assists while playing all 40 minutes in the victory.

The Golden Eagles started the game on a 6-2 run before the Vulcans forced back-to-back turnovers and tied the score at 6-6 on baskets by Loyd and junior Shauna Harrison (Sheffield, England/Myerscough). Cal U forced four more turnovers in the final five-plus minutes as the first quarter ended tied at 13-13. The Golden Eagles jumped out to a 19-18 lead before the Vulcans mounted an 8-2 run to hold a 26-21 lead on a three-pointer by sophomore Halle Herrington (Philipsburg, Pa./Philipsburg-Osceola). Charleston scored six of 10 points to cut the deficit to 30-27 heading into the break.

The teams traded scores to begin the third quarter before the Vulcans used a 12-2 run to take a 44-31 lead at the 4:32-mark on a three-pointer by sophomore Olivia Hudson (Altoona, Pa./Altoona). The Golden Eagles countered by scoring five-straight points before Cal U scored seven of the next nine points to hold a 51-38 advantage on a layup by Terrell at end the third quarter. Charleston opened the fourth quarter on a 6-2 to run to cut the deficit to 53-44 with over eight minutes remaining. The Golden Eagles then scored seven of the next 11 points to trail 57-51 with over four minutes left in the fourth quarter. The Vulcans ended the game on a 7-3 run with a jumper by Loyd to capture a 63-54 victory.

Cal U finished the game shooting 38.6 percent (22-of-57) from the field and converted 77.8 percent (14-of-18) from the charity stripe. In comparison, Charleston made 35.8 percent (19-of-53) from the floor and went 7-of-16 (43.8 percent) from beyond the arc. The Vulcans held a 38-36 rebounding advantage and scored 17 second-chance points off just nine offensive rebounds.

Charleston junior Trinity Palacio led the team with 15 points, six rebounds and three assists, while classmate Dakota Reeves scored 12 points. Junior Sierra Davis posted eight points and paced the team with nine rebounds in the losing effort.

Cal U returns to action on Thursday, Nov. 18, when it hosts Fairmont State for its home-opener at the Convocation Center with tip-off set for 5:30 p.m.