CALIFORNIA (Dec. 18) – Junior
Kennedy Bankett and sophomore
Trinity Balog both posted 20-point games, as the Vulcans claimed a 72-61 victory over No. 16 Malone on Thursday evening at the Convocation Center in non-conference play.
NOTES
• California (6-6) was facing its third nationally-ranked opponent this season.
• The Vulcans have earned at least one victory against a top-25 team in eight-consecutive years.
• Balog scored a career-high 23 points on 7-of-13 shooting, including three-of-five from beyond the arc, and six-of-six from the free-throw line.
• She added four rebounds, four assists and two steals while playing all 40 minutes.
• Bankett finished with 22 points on eight-of-nine from the floor and six-of-six from the charity stripe.
• Senior
Alicia Young tallied 13 points, two blocks and three steals against the Pioneers.
• Junior
Kimaya Williams led the team with seven rebounds and added seven points, two assists and two steals while playing all 40 minutes.
• The teams were tied at 13-13 at the end of the first quarter, which featured 10 offensive rebounds by Malone.
• The Vulcans led by as many as six points, 21-15, early in the second quarter before taking a 30-28 lead at halftime.
• The third quarter featured eight ties and six lead changes with neither team holding a lead larger than a single possession.
• The Vulcans extended their lead to seven points early in the fourth quarter before the Pioneers cut the deficit to 54-53 with 6:40 remaining.
• Cal then seized control with a decisive 14-4 run to build a 68-57 lead at the 1:22-mark.
• The Vulcans finished the game shooting 51.0 percent (26-of-51) from the floor and converted 15-of-16 (93.8 percent) from the free-throw line.
• Malone held a sizeable 44-25 rebounding advantage behind 21 offensive rebounds.
• The Vulcans scored 23 fastbreak points after forcing 15 turnovers in the victory.
NEXT
• Cal continues a busy week with a pair of road games this weekend in PSAC Crossover play, starting on Saturday, Dec. 20, at Lock Haven with tip-off scheduled for 1 p.m.
