SHEPHERDSTOWN, W.Va. (Feb. 7) – Despite a 30-point performance by junior
Dejah Terrell (Reading, Pa./Berks Catholic), the California University of Pennsylvania women's basketball team had its five-game winning streak snapped on Monday evening with a 76-66 loss at Shepherd in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Crossover play.
With the loss, the Vulcans fall to 14-4 this season with a 9-4 mark in conference play. Meanwhile, the Rams improve to 18-4 overall behind a 12-4 mark in league action.
Terrell posted her third 30-point game of the season, as she finished with 30 points on 11-of-23 shooting from the floor and 8-of-11 from the free-throw line. She tallied eight rebounds, three steals and two blocks while playing all 40 minutes.
Fellow junior
Ciaira Loyd (Scranton, Pa./Scranton) finished with 17 points, eight assists and four steals, while sophomore
Halle Herrington (Philipsburg, Pa./Philipsburg-Osceola) registered six points and a season-high five rebounds off the bench. Junior
Lauren Bennett (Buckhannon, W.Va./Buckhannon-Upshur) tallied six rebounds and two steals in the loss.
Shepherd opened the contest on a 7-2 run before the Vulcans scored seven of the next 10 points to cut the deficit to 10-9 with 2:18 remaining in the first quarter. The teams traded the next eight points as the Rams held a 14-13 advantage at the end of the quarter. Herrington made a trey to start the second quarter before Shepherd rallied off a 7-2 run to regain the lead at 21-18. The Vulcans responded by scoring eight of the next 12 points, led by Terrell, to hold a 26-25 advantage with 1:31 remaining in the half. Shepherd scored four-of-five points to end the half with a 29-27 lead.
Terrell started the second half with a jumper before the teams traded the next 12 points to be tied at 35-35 with 6:24 remaining in the third quarter. After a three-pointer by Shepherd, Cal U cut the deficit to 43-42 before the Rams scored six of eight points to extend their lead to 49-44. The Vulcans responded by mounting an 8-2 run, capped off by a Loyd three-pointer at the buzzer, to be tied 52-52 after three quarters. The teams traded baskets to begin the fourth quarter before the Rams scored 7 of 11 points to hold a 61-58 advantage. Shepherd mounted a 6-4 run before converting 9-of-12 free-throws to end the game.
Cal U finished the game shooting 39.7 percent (25-of-63) and converted 12-of-17 (70.6 percent) from the free-throw line. Meanwhile, Shepherd shot an impressive 50.9 percent (28-of-55) from the floor and converted 15-of-21 (71.4 percent) from the charity stripe. The Rams held a 39-32 rebound advantage, while the Vulcans forced 19 turnovers.
Junior Abby Beeman led the Rams with 25 points on 9-of-18 from the floor, while tallying 13 assists and eight rebounds. Beeman entered play as the the PSAC leader in scoring with 19.6 points per game. Graduate student Marley McLaughlin finished with 24 points on 8-of-13 shooting and three rebounds, while classmate Sydney Clayton tallied 13 points and two steals.
The Vulcans return to action on Wednesday, Feb. 9 when they travel to IUP for a PSAC West contest at 5:30 p.m.
