CALIFORNIA (Dec. 18) – Following a season-high 21 points from junior
Ciaira Loyd (Scranton, Pa./Scranton), the Vulcans rolled to a 97-60 victory over West Chester in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Crossover play on Saturday afternoon at the Convocation Center.
With the win, the California University of Pennsylvania women's basketball team improves to 7-1 overall behind a 2-1 mark in league action. A total of 10 different players registered a basket in the win. Meanwhile, the Golden Rams fall to 3-6 overall with a 1-2 mark in conference play.
Loyd scored a season-high 21 points on 8-of-14 shooting, including four-of-seven from beyond the arc, in the win on Saturday. She tallied 15 points in the first quarter and entered the game shooting a combined 2-for-14 from long range this season. Loyd also added four rebounds and a team-high six assists while playing 27 minutes.
Junior
Dejah Terrell (Reading, Pa./Berks Catholic), who battled foul trouble in the first half, finished with 17 points on 7-of-13 from the floor, a team-high eight rebounds and two steals. Sophomore
Halle Herrington (Philipsburg, Pa./Philipsburg-Osceola) registered 13 points behind three-of-five from behind the arc, four rebounds and tied her career high with five assists in 25 minutes off the bench. Junior
Shauna Harrison (Sheffield, England/Myerscough) and sophomore Oliva Hudson (Altoona, Pa./Altoona) each posted nine points, while Harrison tallied four assists and Hudson totaled five rebounds.
Loyd gave the Vulcans a 9-8 lead after starting the game three-of-three from three-point range. Cal U then mounted a 9-3 run to extend its lead to 18-11 on a three-pointer by Terrell with 3:27 left in the first quarter. The Vulcans ended the quarter on a 12-4 run to lead 30-15 on Saturday. West Chester started the second quarter on a 10-4 run to cut the deficit to 34-25 with seven minutes remaining before halftime. After a layup by Harrison, the teams traded the next 10 points before the Vulcans mounted a 14-6 run to lead 55-36 at halftime.
Cal U opened the third quarter on an 8-2 run, as it went four-of-four from the field to extend the lead to 63-38. The Golden Rams rallied with a 10-5 run to cut the deficit to 68-48 with less than four minutes remaining in the quarter. After a free-throw from Harrison, the Vulcans scored nine-consecutive points to hold a 78-48 advantage after three quarters. West Chester scored the initial basket of the fourth quarter before Cal U mounted a 9-2 run to hold an 87-52 lead at the 5:43-mark. The teams traded the next 12 points before the Vulcans secured the 97-60 victory.
Cal U finished the game shooting 55.9 percent (38-of-68) from the floor and a season-best 11-of-28 (39.3 percent) from long range. In comparison, the Golden Rams shot 35.5 percent (22-of-62) from the floor and 4-of-10 (40.0 percent) from behind the arc. West Chester held a 41-34 rebounding advantage, while the Vulcans forced 21 turnovers and collected 15 steals in the victory.
West Chester junior Kyra Jefferson led the Golden Rams with 15 points, while sophomore Leah Johnson finished with 13 points, five rebounds and four assists. Freshman Alexa Abbonizio finished with 11 points, while sophomore Abby Penjuke finished with a team-high eight rebounds.
The Vulcans continue PSAC Crossover play tomorrow, Dec. 19, when they host Millersville at 1 p.m.
