CALIFORNIA (Jan. 31) – Behind four starters scoring in double-digits, the Vulcans posted a 62-46 victory over No. 21 IUP in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West action at the Convocation Center on Monday evening.
With the win, the California University of Pennsylvania women's basketball team improves to 12-3 overall with a 7-3 record in league play. The Vulcans have won the last nine home meetings against the Crimson Hawks since January 2013. Meanwhile, IUP falls to 13-5 this season behind a 7-5 mark in conference action.
Junior
Dejah Terrell (Reading, Pa./Berks Catholic) recorded her sixth double-double of the year with 19 points and 15 rebounds on Monday. She made a trio of three-pointers for the third time this season and converted six-of-seven from the free-throw line while playing 37 minutes. Terrell is averaging 11.8 rebounds over the last five games.
Fellow junior
Lauren Bennett (Buckhannon, W.Va./Buckhannon-Upshur) posted 11 points and tied her career high with nine rebounds (seven offensive) against Crimson Hawks. Classmate
Brionna Allen (Pittsburgh, Pa./Bishop Canevin) scored 13 points, while junior
Ciaira Loyd (Scranton, Pa./Scranton) finished with 14 points, four rebounds, four assists and two steals. Fellow junior
Shauna Harrison (Sheffield, England/Myerscough) tied her career high with five steals in the victory.
Cal U posted a 9-3 run midway through the first quarter to take a 9-7 lead at the 5:08-mark. The Crimson Hawks countered with a 12-6 rally behind four three-pointers to reclaim the lead at 19-15 with 2:26 left in the quarter. The teams traded baskets before being held scoreless for the final minute of the first quarter with IUP holding a 21-17 lead after making five-of-six three-pointers. The Vulcans opened the second quarter on a 12-2 run to take a 29-23 lead on a layup by Harrison at the 4:15-mark. IUP scored four-straight points before being held scoreless for nearly the final three minutes of the quarter, as Cal U held a 31-27 lead at halftime.
The Crimson Hawks tied the score at 34-34 with 6:12 left in third quarter before being held scoreless for the remainder of the quarter. Cal U then mounted a 12-0 run to take a 46-34 lead at the end of the third quarter. The Vulcans extended the lead to 53-37 on a jumper by Allen with 7:21 left to play after starting the fourth quarter on a 7-3 run. Cal U later led by as many as 17 points, 58-41, on a three-pointer by Terrell at the 4:37-mark.
Cal U finished the game shooting 37.1 percent (23-of-62) from the floor and converted 12-of-13 (92.3 percent) from the free-throw line. Meanwhile, IUP shot at a 37.5 clip (18-of-48) behind 7-of-14 (50.0 percent) from long range. The Vulcans held a 43-28 rebounding advantage with 17 offensive rebounds that led to 15 second-chance points. The Crimson Hawks entered the game as the league leader in rebounding margin at plus-10.1 per game.
IUP senior Justina Mascaro scored a game-high 20 points on 8-of-10 shooting, including four-of-four from beyond the arc, in the loss. Freshman Gina Adams posted eight points and three rebounds, while junior Teirra Preston collected seven rebounds, three assists and two steals on Monday.
The Vulcans continue PSAC West play on Wednesday, Feb. 2, when they host Pitt-Johnstown at 5:30 p.m.
