SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. — The Slippery Rock University women's basketball team will look to stay in the win column when it plays its third Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division game in six days 5:30 p.m. Wednesday at California (Pa.).
 
The Rock take a 6-7 overall record that includes a 4-4 mark in PSAC competition with them, while the Vulcans will likewise seek improvement upon a 6-7 start to the season. California will be playing just its second PSAC West opponent of the year, coming in at 3-4 in conference play.
 
WATCH LIVE
Fans can watch Wednesday's game live for free via the links below provided by California (Pa.) Athletic Communication.
 
GAME 14 of 26
Opponent: California (Pa.)
Date: Wednesday – 5:30 p.m.
Location: California, Pennsylvania  
Venue: Convocation Center
Live Video: PSAC Sports Digital Network
Live Stats: California (Pa.) Athletic Communication
In-game Updates: X (@Rock_Athletics)
All-Time Series: 40-66-1
Current Streak: L8
Last Played: Feb. 10, 2024 at California (SRU lost, 72-53)
 
TOP ACTIVE SRU CAREER STATS vs. CALIFORNIA (Pa.)
Regan Atkins – 31 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal (2 GP)
Endya Robinson – 19 points, 14 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal (2 GP)
Deryn Moye – 15 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals (2 GP)
Kaylin Venick – 14 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals (6 GP)
Anye Washington – 8 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist (2 GP)
 
SERIES HISTORY
Wednesday will feature the 108^th all-time meeting between The Rock and the Vulcans, a series that California leads, 66-40-1.
 
Slippery Rock last claimed victory over a then-10^th-ranked Cal team in 2019, 72-61. That win snapped a 35-game winning streak that California had built beginning in 2003. Since that nationally ranked upset, the Vulcans have won each of the last eight games against SRU, going 43-1 against The Rock since 2003.
 
With both of Slippery Rock's last two wins over California coming at Morrow Field House, SRU's most recent win at Cal came by way of a 60-53 result Feb. 7, 2001. The Vulcans are 3-3 at home this year and have not lost four home games in a single year since the 2012-13 season.
 

TEAM COMPARISON
THE ROCK	STAT	VULCANS
65.1	Points per Game	64.8
64.5	Opp. Points per Game	64.5
41.1%	Field Goal Pct.	35.6%
38.7%	Opp. Field Goal Pct.	41.7%
31.9%	3-Point Pct.	26.2%
30.7%	Opp 3-Point Pct.	29.9%
6.6	3-Pointers Made per Game	4.7
73.6%	Free Throw Pct.	65.5%
37.2	Rebounds per Game	41.2
37.2	Opp. Rebounds per Game	39.0
+0.1	Rebounding Margin	+2.2
14.3	Assists	10.3
-1.8	Turnover Margin	+3.9
5.6	Steals	9.8
3.2	Blocks	2.9
Per game averages

 
THE ROCK BY THE NUMBERS
Overall Record: 6-7
PSAC Record: 4-4
Home Record: 3-4
Away Record: 2-2
Neutral Record: 1-1
Last Five: 2-3
Streak: W1
PSAC West Rank: 6^th of 8
Head Coach: Ryenn Micaletti | Second season at SRU (8-30)
Roster: Link
Stats: Link
 
LAST TIME OUT
Slippery Rock picked up its first win of the calendar year with a 71-58 victory over Pitt-Johnstown Jan. 6 at Morrow Field House. Regan Atkins (24 points) and Sophia Hook (21) both produced career-high showings offensively, combining for 65.0 percent overall shooting (13-of-20) and converting nine 3-pointers.
 
SRU and UPJ swapped runs to open the game, with a 9-0 Slippery Rock lead quickly turning into a 10-9 advantage for the Mountain Cats. The Rock trailed Pitt-Johnstown by as many as five in the second quarter but commandeered the lead in the second half, never looking back.
 
Slippery Rock connected on five of its nine 3-point attempts (55.6 percent) in the third quarter and needed to make just four of its six total field goal attempts in the fourth quarter to cruise to the 13-point victory. Kayley Joseph-Bernard and Alyssa Gillin both led The Rock off the glass with eight rebounds apiece. Mairan Haggerty recorded SRU's lone block.
 
LEADING THE ROCK
Atkins leads The Rock with 13.4 points per game, good enough to rank 11^th in the PSAC West. Hook joins her with SRU's only other double-digit average, scoring 10.9 points per game through the first nine games of her collegiate career. Tahmala Thorpe has given Slippery Rock 9.8 points per outing with 8.2 points per game coming from Joseph-Bernard.
 
Joseph-Bernard has made 48.5 percent of her field goal attempts (47-of-97) to become one of SRU's most consistent shooters in the paint. Atkins has drained 46.5 percent of her shots (59-of-127) including a 40.0 percent showing from 3-point range (16-of-40). Gillin has converted 40.2 percent of field goal attempts as well (33-of-82).
 
The only SRU player who has earned a higher 3-point percentage than Atkins this year is Brooklyn Jones, who remains at 42.4 percent from beyond the arc (14-of-33). Hook leads SRU with 20 total 3-pointers on 61 attempts (32.8 percent).
 
Joseph-Bernard continues to serve as Slippery Rock's lead rebounder, collecting 8.4 boards per game. The junior forward ranks sixth in the PSAC in total rebounds per game and stacks up fifth in the conference and 38^th in Division II with 6.6 defensive rebounds per contest. Atkins is second on the team with 6.2 rebounds per game.
 
In addition to rebounding, Joseph-Bernard has paved the way for Slippery Rock with 4.2 assists, 1.2 steals and 1.0 block per game. Joseph-Bernard ranks third in the PSAC in assists per game and ninth in the conference with a one-block average.
 
BREAKING PERSONAL RECORDS
Atkins and Hook combined for 45 of Slippery Rock's 71 points (63.3 percent) in The Rock's 71-58 win over Pitt-Johnstown, both notching career-highs in scoring. Atkins led the team with 24 points, while Hook added 21 to the scoreboard.
 
The matchup with UPJ marked the seventh time in Atkins' career that the reigning PSAC West Freshman of the Year has totaled at least 20 points in the game, the third such instance this season. The New Castle, Pennsylvania native scored 23 points twice last year – against Clarion in a 62-60 win and versus Seton Hill University in a loss at home.
 
Playing in just her ninth game, Hook shattered her previous career-best 16 points set back on Nov. 26, 2024 against Tiffin University with a 21-point production against UPJ. Much like her performance against Tiffin, which included four 3-pointers, Hook went 5-of-9 from 3-point range versus UPJ, another career-high for the sophomore from Brookfield, Ohio.
 
This was also the first time since Feb. 22, 2023 that Slippery Rock has had two different players both reach at least 20 points in the same game. Deleah Gibson (31) and Isabellah Middleton (26) led SRU's scoring in a 75-71 home loss to Clarion 39 games ago.
 
The Rock last won a game with two 20-point performers just four days prior to that, defeating Indiana University (Pa.) on the road, 70-57, Feb. 18, 2023. Gibson (22) and Middleton (20) again guided SRU on the attack.
 
DRAINING THREES
Slippery Rock made 10-of-27 3-point attempts (37.0 percent) against Pitt-Johnstown, marking the second time this season that The Rock have made at least 10 triples. SRU knocked down 14-of-42 (33.3 percent) from behind the arc in its 78-75 overtime loss to Tiffin.
 
On top of four 3-pointers from Atkins and five by Hook, Haggerty went 1-for-3 in 3-point territory against UPJ to earn three points on the night. The performance from the trio snapped a six-game streak of losing the 3-point battle percentagewise, despite making more threes than the opponent four times in that span.
 
Slippery Rock now ranks fifth in the PSAC with 31.9 percent 3-point shooting as well as fourth in the conference with 6.6 made treys per game.
 
LIMITING THREES
SRU welcomed Pitt-Johnstown, the top 3-point shooting team in the PSAC (33.9 percent) Jan. 6 and held the Mountain Cats to just 21.7 percent (5-of-23) from the perimeter – UPJ's third-lowest 3-point percentage on the year. The Rock allowed Pitt-Johnstown to make only 1-of-7 second-half 3-point attempts (14.3 percent) as well.
 
This was the first time that Slippery Rock has held an opponent to less than 22.0 percent from 3-point range in 14 games. Edinboro shot just 20.0 percent (2-of-6) in its 60-47 win over Slippery Rock last year.
 
PLAYING FROM BEHIND
Slippery Rock won its first game of the season in which it trailed at halftime against Pitt-Johnstown. The Rock overcame a one-point halftime deficit and outscored the Mountain Cats through the second half, 41-27. Additionally, SRU overcame its largest deficit in a victory this season, at one point losing to UPJ by five points.
 
The Rock previously trailed Salem University by four points late in the second quarter before earning a 69-59 road win Nov. 16. Slippery Rock entered halftime of that game in a 25-25 tie with the Tigers.
 
SOPHIA MAKING A BIG IMPACT
Slippery Rock accumulated a 25-6 advantage over Pitt-Johnstown in points off the bench, thanks to 21 points from Hook and four points scored by Thorpe. Hook climbed to 98 career points in her ninth career game, now accounting for 37.5 percent of SRU's total bench points this season (98-of-261).
 
Hook has made up 44.3 percent of the bench points throughout the nine games she has played in (98-of-221). Slippery Rock is 5-4 against opponents in bench points this season in games which Hook has appeared in.
 
REGAN PILOTING THE ROCK
With 24 points against Pitt-Johnstown, Atkins served as Slippery Rock's top scorer for the fifth consecutive game. The Rock have seen six different players earn the title of leading scorer this season despite playing just 13 games:
 
# of times player has been SRU's leading scorer this season:
Regan Atkins (7)
Tahmala Thorpe (2 – Davis & Elkins and West Chester)
Alyssa Gillin (1 – Kutztown)
Sophia Hook (1 – Millersville)
Kayley Joseph-Bernard (1 – Salem)
Brooklyn Jones (1 – Tiffin)
 
Atkins has now been the team's top scorer 24 times in 38 career games, 63.2 percent of Slippery Rock's competitions in the last two seasons. The sophomore guard led The Rock in the scoring column 17 times while appearing in all 25 games.
 
SHARING THE ROCK
SRU continues to rank fifth in the PSAC in assists with 14.3 helpers per game. Individually, Joseph-Bernard ranks third in the conference with 4.2 assists per game. She ranks second in Division II among forwards in assists per game. Throughout all three NCAA divisions, Joseph-Bernard ranks in the top five in assisting forwards:
 
Assists per game among forwards (All NCAA Divisions)
1. Emily Kennedy (4.6 – Lehman / D-III)
2. Laura Ziegler (4.5 – Saint Joseph's / D-I)
3. Avery Brittingham (4.4 – UT Arlington / D-I)
4. Hannah Giddey (4.3 – Southern Nazarene / D-II)
5. Kayley Joseph-Bernard (4.2 – Slippery Rock / D-II)
 
A PASSING PRESENCE
Slippery Rock recorded 17 assists on 24 field goals against Pitt-Johnstown while turning the ball over just 11 times. The game marks just the second time this year SRU has turned the ball over less than a dozen times. The Rock took care of the ball against Malone University, committing just 11 turnovers in that game as well.
 
This was also the fifth time this season in which Slippery Rock has totaled at least 17 assists. SRU's +1.55 assist-turnover ratio against the Mountain Cats is the team's best since that game against Malone (17:11). Slippery Rock additionally recorded a +1.50 assist-turnover ratio on 18 assists and 12 turnovers versus Kutztown University Dec. 6.
 
STELLAR SHOT SELECTION
Slippery Rock shot above 42 percent for the third time in six games against UPJ, hitting 24-of-53 from the floor (45.3 percent). The Rock were guided by three players who all shot at least 50 percent in the game: Atkins, Hook and Joseph-Bernard.
 
Atkins made 7-of-9 field goal attempts (77.8 percent) including 4-of-6 from 3-point range (66.7 percent). She has now shot above 55 percent from the field in three of her last four games, making 22-of-39 in that span (56.4 percent).
 
Hook landed 6-of-11 (54.5 percent) against UPJ including a career-high 5-of-9 performance from the 3-point arc. The 29-minute shift featured the best single-game shooting percentage of Hook's career.
 
Joseph-Bernard joins Atkins in shooting at least 50 percent in three of the last four games after going 6-of-12 in the paint against Pitt-Johnstown. Joseph-Bernard, who has shot 48.5 percent on the season (47-of-97), enters California (Pa.) having cashed in on 50 percent of her shots in the most recent four games (16-of-32).
 
ALREADY HALFWAY
SRU's win over Pitt-Johnstown came in its 13^th game of a 26-game schedule, marking the midpoint of the 2024-25 season. This is the third time in the last four years that Slippery Rock has begun the second half of the regular season with a winning percentage of at least .462.
 
ROCK STARS OF RECENT
• Atkins' career-high performance came with four 3-pointers for the second time. She made four triples against Shippensburg University last year in her first collegiate win, a 49-32 victory over the Raiders.
 
• After tying a season-high two steals against Seton Hill, Atkins topped that number with three steals against UPJ. Four steals is her career-high, set against Shepherd University a year ago at home.
 
• On top of her personal-best 21 points and five made 3-pointers, Hook pulled down a career-high seven rebounds against the Mountain Cats.
 
• Rebecca Goetz recorded a career-high two blocks against Seton Hill last week. The true freshman had tallied four blocks in four different games up to that point.
 
• Jones made a career-high four free throws against Seton Hill and recorded two steals, her most in a Slippery Rock uniform. Jones' career-high in steals came as a sophomore at Division I Niagara University when she gave the Purple Eagles four of the team's eight steals in a narrow 75-72 loss road loss to Fairfield University Feb. 3, 2022.
 
• Thorpe tied a personal-best four rebounds against Pitt-Johnstown, now with nine rebounds in the last three games. She also came down with four boards against Mansfield.
 
• Joseph-Bernard surpassed 100 points in her time at Slippery Rock against UPJ, reaching 106 through 13 games.
 
• Haggerty matched a career-high four made free throws against SHU, a number she reached against Bloomsburg University as well.
 
• Anye Washington tied a season-high three points for the fourth time this season against Seton Hill and grabbed her first rebound of the year versus Pitt-Johnstown. That went down as her 25^th career rebound in her 25^th appearance for The Rock.
 
• Endya Robinson made two free throws for the first time this season against the Griffins.
 
• Deryn Moye went 2-for-2 at the foul line for the fourth time this year versus SHU. The junior guard is now shooting 83.3 percent at the stripe this season (10-of-12).
 
• Hallie Raabe nabbed a season-best two rebounds against the Griffins, now with 49 points and 39 boards in her career.
 
THE VULCANS BY THE NUMBERS
Overall Record: 6-7
PSAC Record: 3-4
Home Record: 3-3
Away Record: 1-4
Neutral Record: 2-0
Last Five: 2-3
Streak: L2
PSAC East Rank: 7^th of 8
Head Coach: Jess Strom | 13^th season at California (287-94, .753)
Roster: Link
Stats: Link
 
CALIFORNIA SCOUTING REPORT
The Vulcans find themselves in unfamiliar territory with a 6-7 overall record and a 3-4 mark in conference play Jan. 8, but still rank highly throughout the conference in multiple categories. Cal's +3.9 turnover margin and 17.7 offensive rebounds per game both lead the PSAC.
 
Junior Alicia Young leads California with 15.8 points per game. The McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania product started twice against SRU last year but combined for just six points on 25 percent shooting (2-of-8). Young ranks fifth in the PSAC West in scoring entering Wednesday.
 
Allycia Harris provided a dual-threat for the Vulcans with 9.9 points and a team-leading 8.1 rebounds per game. The Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania native has double-doubled twice this year in losses to Bowie State University (11 points, 16 rebounds) and No. 15 Fairmont State University (15 points, 13 rebounds).
 
Cal is coming off a 71-62 loss to No. 9 Gannon University Jan. 4. The Vulcans and The Rock have played five common opponents in the PSAC East. California lost to West Chester and Kutztown – both teams SRU defeated – but the Vulcans beat ESU and Bloomsburg, two teams that The Rock dropped a pair of games to.
 
LOOKING AHEAD
Slippery Rock will play its last non-conference game of the season when it hosts Lake Erie College 1 p.m. Saturday at Morrow Field House. The Rock and the Storm were originally scheduled to play Nov. 30 but inclement weather postponed the game to this week.





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