Box Score
CALIFORNIA, Pa. – Brooque Williams scored 28 points and grabbed 14 rebounds, and Kayla Smith notched 12 points and 14 rebounds to lead 10th-ranked California (Pa.) to a 77-65 victory in women’s basketball Saturday afternoon inside Hamer Hall.
West Chester (7-2) dropped its second straight contest of the season, after falling to Clarion before the holiday break. California (8-2), who was stunned by unranked Seton Hill on Wednesday, regrouped with a stellar effort down the stretch to come from behind.
Williams ignited a 21-8 run midway through the second half that turned a 10-point West Chester lead into a 13-point advantage for Cal. Williams posted 14 of her game-high 28 during that decisive run while contributing six of her 14 rebounds.
The Golden Rams led 48-38 with 12:26 left in the game when the All-American Williams took over control of the contest. Her conventional 3-point play with 6:30 remaining gave the Vulcans the lead for good at 56-54. Cal would finish out the run by netting 13 of the next 15 points in the tilt to take a commanding 69-56 lead with 3:33 to go.
West Chester struggled with Cal’s up tempo, in-your-face, defense all day. The Rams shot a season-low 32.8 percent from the field, including 23.1 percent from behind the 3-point arc.
“That was the worst we shot all year,” West Chester head coach Deirdre Kane said. “They double-teamed us everywhere they could, and when you get out of a double-team like that, you are always a little frantic.”
The Rams led 32-30 at halftime. However, the Vulcans outscored West Chester, 47-33, in the second half to remain perfect at home (4-0) on the year.
Renata Neal led West Chester with a career-high 19 points. Allison Hostetter posted a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds. Jillian Keefer registered 13 points and three steals off the bench.
West Chester travels to Indiana (Pa.), a 67-54 winner over Millersville Saturday behind Lacey Claar’s 19 points, to conclude its weekend PSAC crossover schedule. IUP is now 24-2 against the PSAC East in regular-season play over the past five years.
