CALIFORNIA, Pa. – The Slippery Rock University women's basketball team played even with California (Pa.) for the first three quarters, but a muted ending for SRU resulted in a 74-68 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division road loss Monday.
 
The Rock's record moves to 12-11 overall and 7-10 in conference competition while the Vulcans improve to 15-8 on the season and 11-6 in the PSAC West.
 
Isabellah Middleton and Deleah Gibson spearheaded Slippery Rock's scoring efforts as they combined to register 75 percent (51-of-68) of SRU's points.
 
Isabellah Middleton led The Rock with a career-high 27 points to go along with eight rebounds, two steals and one assist in addition to shooting a perfect 8-of-8 from the foul line.
 
Gibson ended the night with 24 points, nine rebounds, three steals and two assists while shooting an efficient 6-of-9 from 3-point range and 9-of-17 from the floor overall.
 
Jordan Kauffman and Kennedy Middleton each added six points and four rebounds apiece while Kauffman also tallied three steals and one assist. Middleton tacked on three assists as well. 
 
Bella Long chipped in three points and Kaylin Venick was credited with two points, two assists and one rebound to round out SRU's top contributors.
 
The Vulcans led by as many as seven points in the first quarter before The Rock used a 13-6 run over the first 5:03 of the second quarter and a 50 percent (5-of-10) 3-point percentage to take an eventual one-point lead (35-34) at halftime.
 
Slippery Rock and California opened the third quarter trading baskets before a made 3-pointer by Kauffman at 6:58 ignited a 13-2 run to give The Rock their largest lead of the night at 50-40 with 4:03 remaining in the third.
 
Cal was able to use an 8-2 run of its own to close out the third quarter trailing SRU by only two points. Despite The Rock's early second-half dominance, the Vulcans would go on to outscore Slippery Rock 24-16 over the final 10 minutes en route to a 74-68 Cal win.
 
For the game, Slippery Rock shot 37.1 percent (23-of-62) from the field overall, 41.7 percent (10-of-24) from 3-point range and 100 percent (12-of-12) at the foul line. SRU committed 14 turnovers while forcing the Vulcans into 11 turnovers of their own.
 
California finished the contest shooting 48.4 percent (31-of-64) from the field overall, 17.6 percent (3-of-17) from 3-point territory and 81.8 percent (9-of-11) from the free throw line. Cal slightly out rebounded SRU 37-35. Three Vulcans scored in double figures led by Allycia Harris with 27 points.
 
SRU finishes out its three games in five days stretch when it returns home to host Mercyhurst University 5:30 p.m. Wednesday at Morrow Field House for its Breast Cancer Awareness game. Earlier this season The Rock defeated the Lakers 60-58 on the road in Erie, Pennsylvania.






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