BOWIE, Md. (Dec. 11) – Behind a 30-point performance by junior
Dejah Terrell (Reading, Pa./Berks Catholic), the California University of Pennsylvania women's basketball team claimed a 64-41 win at Bowie State in non-conference action on Saturday afternoon.
With the victory, the Vulcans improve to 6-1 overall behind a 5-0 mark against non-conference opponents. Cal U was facing Bowie State for the first time since the 2011-12 campaign. Meanwhile, the Bulldogs, which were picked second in the preseason Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) North poll, fall to 2-5 this year.
Terrell recorded her second 30-point game of the season on Saturday. She scored 32 points while shooting 13-of-16 from the floor, including three-of-five from beyond the arc, and added seven rebounds and three blocks against the Bulldogs. Terrell is averaging 19.4 points per game this season while shooting at 54.5 clip (54-99) and has recorded at least three blocks five times in the last six games.
Sophomore
Halle Herrington (Philipsburg, Pa./Philipsburg-Osceola) added 10 points and three assists in 24 minutes off the bench. Junior
Ciaira Loyd (Scranton, Pa./Scranton) tallied six rebounds and six assists, while classmate
Lauren Bennett (Buckhannon, W.Va./Buckhannon-Upshur) collected five rebounds in the win.
Cal U scored the opening basket of the game at the 9:09-mark before Bowie State scored six-straight points to hold a 6-2 lead with 3:41 left in the first quarter. The Vulcans snapped a nearly six-minute scoreless drought with a free-throw at the 3:17-mark to spark a 5-0 run and take a 7-6 lead with 1:52 remaining in the quarter. Terrell scored a pair of baskets in the final minute to give Cal U an 11-10 lead at the end of the first quarter. The Vulcans opened the second quarter with a three-pointer by Herrington and later held an 18-16 lead at the 6:30-mark. Cal U then seized control of the game with 16-consecutive points to build a 34-16 lead with 1:57 in the first half. Terrell and Herrington combined for 12 points during the run, as the Vulcans made seven-of-eight attempts from the floor. Bowie State stopped a five-plus minute scoring drought with a basket at the 1:04-mark before Cal U took a 34-18 lead into halftime.
The Vulcans scored the initial points of the third quarter before the Bulldogs scored six of eight points to trim the deficit to 38-24 at the 7:24-mark. Bowie State later posted a 7-1 run over a nearly 90-second span to cut the deficit to 41-31 with 5:09 left to play. Cal U went nearly five minutes without a field goal before a layup at the 2:45-mark and held a 48-37 lead at the end of the third quarter. The Vulcans scored nine-consecutive points, including seven by Terrell, in the fourth quarter to build a 57-39 lead at the 3:31-mark. Bowie State snapped the scoreless drought with 2:49 left to play before Cal U tallied the last seven points of the contest to earn the 64-41 victory.
Cal U finished the game shooting 54.2 percent (26-of-48) from the floor. Meanwhile, the Bulldogs made just 30.4 percent (14-of-46) from the field and went zero-for-seven from long range. The Vulcans finished with a 33-26 rebounding advantage and scored over 30 points in the paint. Both teams forced over 20 turnovers in the contest.
Bowie State freshman Anii Harris led the team with 11 points, while junior Chyna Butler tallied eight points, three rebounds and six steals in the losing effort.
The Vulcans are idle for a week before hosting West Chester on Saturday, Dec. 18, in PSAC Crossover play at 1 p.m.
