CALIFORNIA, Pa. – The Slippery Rock University women's basketball team couldn't overcome a first quarter in which it scored just four points in a 70-45 loss at California University (Pa.) Wednesday night in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division competition.
 
The loss drops The Rock's record to 11-13 overall and 7-10 in PSAC West play. California improved to 17-5 overall and 14-4 in league games with the win.
 
Lexi Carpenter led three Slippery Rock players in double figures with a team-best 14 points. Ciara Patterson added 13 points while Mallory Heinle was The Rock's third leading scorer with 10 points on 5-of-8 shooting in addition to pulling in three rebounds.
 
Erica Aiello passed out a team-best five assists to go with three rebounds and two steals. Sorriyah Ranger and Sarah Beckham scored two points apiece to round out Slippery Rock's scorers. Ranger also grabbed a Rock-best seven rebounds, narrowly edging Megan Hardiman, who had five rebounds on the night, for the team lead.
 
Slippery Rock jumped out to a 2-0 lead on a jumper in the paint by Aiello 17 seconds into the game. However, Slippery Rock went on to shoot just 1-for-13 over the remainder of the quarter while the Vulcans connected on 8-of-19 field goal attempts to take a 19-4 lead after one quarter of play.
 
SRU played Cal. much closer in the second quarter, only being outscored 18-12, to head into halftime trailing 37-16. Heinle and Carpenter combined to score eight of Slippery Rock's 12 points in the quarter.
 
Slippery Rock traded baskets with California for the majority of the second half, but was unable to mount a serious comeback bid over the final 20 minutes of play as the Vulcans outscored The Rock 33-29 in the third and fourth quarter on the way to its 70-45 win.
 
For the game, Slippery Rock shot 31.7 percent from the field overall, totaled 34 rebounds and committed 19 turnovers. California shot 42.9 percent from the field, had 47 rebounds and made 14 turnovers. The Vulcans had a 20-2 edge over The Rock in free throws attempted.
 
Shatara Parsons and Seairra Barrett both recorded double-doubles for the Vulcans. Parsons went for 10 points and 14 rebounds while Barrett added 20 points and 11 rebounds.
 
Slippery Rock returns home for three consecutive games starting with Indiana (Pa.) 5 p.m. Saturday. SRU then closes its home schedule 6 p.m. Feb. 17 against Clarion and 5 p.m. Feb. 20 against Gannon.