CALIFORNIA (Dec. 2) – The California (PA) women's basketball team was unable to withstand a high-scoring second half in a 65-53 loss versus Virginia State in non-conference action on Monday evening at the Convocation Center.
NOTES
• The Vulcans (4-4) were playing the Trojans for the first time since the opening round of the 2015 NCAA Tournament.
• Virginia State opened the year with five-straight victories before suffering a loss at Seton Hill on Saturday.
• Junior Alicia Young led the team with 17 points on 6-of-15 shooting and added five rebounds.
• She ranks seventh in the PSAC in scoring this season at 17.6 points per game, which is nearly an 11-point increase from last year.
• Senior Talia Gilliard collected 10 points behind a pair of three-pointers and two steals on Monday.
• Classmate Iyahnna Williams finished with six points, five rebounds and one steal in 19 minutes off the bench.
• The Vulcans took a 26-20 lead at halftime after limiting the Trojans to just eight points in the second quarter.
• VSU mounted an 11-3 run early in the third quarter to cut the deficit to 32-31 at the 5:21-mark.
• The Trojans later claimed a 46-43 lead with 7:03 left in the fourth quarter behind a 13-5 rally.
• Cal trailed by one point, 52-51, with 3:23 remaining before being held scoreless until the final two seconds of the game.
• The Trojans scored 45 points in the second half, highlighted by shooting 11-of-13 from the floor in the fourth quarter.
• VSU finished with a 48-27 rebounding advantage behind 19 offensive rebounds.
NEXT
• Cal returns to action on Friday, Dec. 6, when it begins a weekend road trip at West Chester in PSAC Crossover play at 3 p.m.
• The Vulcans and Golden Rams have both appeared in each of the last two NCAA Tournaments.
