Cal women fall short in season opener
CALIFORNIA – Harper Annarino had 17 points and 17 rebounds, leading Charleston (W.Va.) to a 73-67 women’s basketball victory over California on Monday in the Vulcans’ season opener at the Convocation Center.
Charleston led 35-30 at halftime and scored the first nine points of the second half to open a 44-30 lead midway through the third quarter.
Cal battled back and tied the score at 58-58 after a free throw by Olivia Huffman with 6:19 remaining. The Vulcans, however, were never able to take the lead down the stretch.
Trinity Balog, who scored a game-high 22 points, made a long two-point field goal that brought Cal to within 64-62 with 4:18 to play, but that was as close as the Vulcans could get.
Balog missed a three-pointer with Charleston leading 70-67 and 33 seconds left. The Golden Eagles then secured the win from the free-throw line.
Taylor Austin also scored 17 points for Charleston. Paris Stokes had 14 points and Jordan Scully 11.
Balog had a double-double as she grabbed a team-high 10 rebounds. Kennedy Bankett, with 15 points, was the only other Cal player to score in double figures.
The Vulcans will play in the Mountain East/PSAC Conference Challenge on Friday and Saturday at Edinboro. Cal will face West Liberty on Friday (3 p.m.) and Wheeling on Saturday evening.