Box Score
CALIFORNIA, Pa. – The Slippery Rock University women's basketball team dropped a 67-54 decision on the road at California University (Pa.) Wednesday night in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division action.
With the loss, Slippery Rock falls to 5-10 overall and 2-9 in PSAC play. California improves to 10-5 overall and 7-4 in league action.
The Rock jumped out to an early lead and kept things close throughout the first half before the Vulcans pulled away for good with a 10-4 run to open the second half.
Danielle Smith led the way for Slippery Rock with 14 points, while
D'Asia Chambers added 12 points and team-high six rebounds.
Jasmine Cooper chipped in 10 points and
Erinne Cunningham added nine to cap the top scorers.
The Rock, coming off its finest shooting performance of the season, connected on 21-of-51 attempts from the field for a 41.2 percent efficiency that included a 28.6 percent effort from behind the 3-point arc (4-of-14). SRU made 8-of-11 attempts from the free throw line and pulled down a total of 30 rebounds.
California shot slightly better at 45.8 percent from the field, connecting on 27-of-59 attempts, including 3-of-16 from long range (18.8 percent) and made 10-of-16 attempts at the charity stripe (62.5 percent). The hosts earned the rebounding advantage with 35 total boards.
Amy Johns led the Vulcans with a game-high 20 points, while Danielle Luckett added 11 and a total of 10 players chipped in two or more points.
Slippery Rock jumped out to an early 7-2 lead just two minutes into the game before allowing the hosts to go on a 9-0 run to take an 11-7 lead with 15:49 to play in the first half.
The Rock retook the lead at 12-11 and again at 14-13 with just over 13 minutes to play in the period, but again California put together a scoring run, this time of 11-3 to take a 25-16 lead with 8:50 to play before the break.
SRU battled back and cut the deficit to three points at 31-28 before California knocked down a buzzer beater to take a 33-28 lead into halftime.
The Vulcans opened the second half with a 10-4 run to take a 43-32 lead with 17:22 to play and never looked back. Slippery Rock would not manage to get within nine points the rest of the way.
Things don't get easier for The Rock in the near future as undefeated and third-ranked Edinboro will visit Morrow Field House Saturday for a 1 p.m. tip. Edinboro defeated No. 18 Indiana (Pa.) 71-45 Wednesday night to improve to 15-0.
