ERIE, Pa. (Jan. 14) – In a rematch of last year's league championship, the California (PA) women's basketball team suffered a 70-63 loss at Gannon on Saturday afternoon in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West play.

With the loss, the Vulcans fall to 10-5 overall behind a 6-3 record in conference action. Cal has lost five of the last six meetings against Gannon after previously winning 10-consecutive meetings. Meanwhile, Gannon extends its winning streak to nine games and improves to 15-2 this season while seizing sole possession of first place in the divisional standings with a 7-2 mark.

Senior Ciaira Loyd (Scranton, Pa./Scranton) led the team with 20 points (all second half) on 9-of-17 shooting and added four assists in the contest. She posted her fourth 20-point game of the season and ranks second on the team in scoring at 14.1 points per game.

Junior Halle Herrington (Philipsburg, Pa./Philipsburg-Osceola) finished with 17 points (13 first half) on 6-of-12 from the floor and four rebounds. Senior Rajah Fink (Dover, Pa./Dover) registered 15 points, seven rebounds, two assists and two steals while playing all 40 minutes.

Gannon opened the game on a 7-0 run and sophomore Allycia Harris (Wilkes-Barre, Pa./Elmer L. Meyers) was forced to the bench after being for whistled a pair of fouls in the opening two-plus minutes. The Vulcans scored their initial points of the game on a jumper by Herrington at the 7:24-mark and later mounted an 8-4 run to trim the deficit to 16-12 with 2:13 left. Cal trailed 19-15 at the end of the first quarter and capped a 7-2 rally on a jumper by Herrington with 7:34 remaining before the break. The Lady Knights then rallied off nine-unanswered points to take a 30-19 lead while holding the Vulcans scoreless for four-plus minutes. Cal responded with an 8-2 run in less than 90 seconds to cut the deficit to 32-27 with 2:04 left in the second quarter. The Lady Knights countered by scoring the final seven points of the quarter to take a 39-27 lead into the break following a last-second three-pointer.

The Vulcans cut the deficit to single digits in the opening minute in the third quarter before the Lady Knights scored six of the next eight points to claim a 45-33 lead at the 5:33-mark. Cal responded with a 10-4 run with eight points by Loyd to close the quarter trailing by a 49-43 margin. Early in the fourth quarter, the Vulcans posted an 8-2 run to trim the deficit to 53-51 on a jumper by Loyd with 5:56 remaining. Cal trailed by two points at the 2:46-mark before Gannon scored six of the next eight points to seize a 65-59 lead with 1:06 left to play. The Vulcans answered with a pair of baskets in less than 30 seconds before the Lady Knights sealed the victory by converting four free-throws over the final 12 seconds.

Cal finished the game with a .424 field-goal percentage (25-of-59) and went 12-of-14 (85.7 percent) from the charity stripe. Meanwhile, Gannon made 47.1 percent (24-of-51) from the floor and converted 78.3 percent (18-of-23) from the free-throw line. The Vulcans held a 36-29 rebounding advantage behind 13 offensive rebounds, while the Lady Knights scored 24 points off turnovers.

Senior Samantha Pirosko tied her career high with 32 points on 12-of-17 from the floor and 7-of-10 from the free-throw line. She also collected a game-high 13 rebounds (five offensive) for her sixth double-double of the year. Freshman Bri Claxon scored 13 points, while senior Emma Wright finished with 12 points, four points and two assists.

The Vulcans return to action on Wednesday, Jan. 18, when they host Mercyhurst at the Convocation Center, starting at 5:30 p.m.