Box Score

CALIFORNIA, Pa. – The California University of Pennsylvania women's basketball team ran out to a 37-15 halftime lead en route to handing Slippery Rock a 69-39 loss Wednesday evening in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference-Western Division action at Hamer Hall.

The Vulcans (17-6, 8-3 PSAC) defense took over midway through the first half, holding The Rock (3-20, 1-10 PSAC) scoreless for separate stretches of five minutes and 4:27.

Marlynda Harland led SRU with 15 points and five rebounds. Grace Palucis added nine points and five rebounds as the only other Rock player with more than five points in the game.

Slippery Rock finished the game shooting 25.5 percent from the field, connecting on 12-of-47 attempts, including 4-of-19 from behind the 3-point arc. The Rock was 11-of-13 at the free throw line.

California posted advantages of 46-34 in total rebounds, 44-12 in points in the paint, 26-11 in points off turnovers and 13-25 in turnovers.

The Vulcans were led by Kayla Smith with a double-double of 14 points and 10 rebounds. Elena Antonenko added 12 points and Amy Johns chipped in 11.

California finished the game shooting 40.3 percent from the field, hitting 27-of-67 attempts, including 3-of-14 from the 3-point line. The hosts were just 12-of-21 at the free throw line.

Wednesday's game was close for the first 10 minutes of action, with both teams exchanging the lead throughout. Slippery Rock owned a 4-2 lead after the first four minutes and the game was tied at 7-7 after seven minutes of play.

California led 11-9 with 11:10 left before halftime before going on a 14-0 run to break open a 25-9 lead. The Rock ended its scoreless drought of exactly five minutes when Danielle Smith made a layup with 6:10 to play before the intermission.

The hosts answered that bucket with a 12-0 run and held SRU off the scoresheet for the next 4:27 to break open a 37-11 lead. The Rock closed the half with a 4-0 run to trail 37-15 at the break.

Slippery Rock made a season-low five field goals in the first half, shooting 5-of-23, compared to California's 16 made field goals on 16-of-34 shooting.

The Vulcans first basket of the second half pushed the lead out to 24 points, which would be as close as the visitors would get for the rest of the game.

Slippery Rock remains on the road for its next two games, Saturday at Mercyhurst and next Wednesday at Gannon, before returning home to close out the season Saturday, Feb. 26, against Edinboro.