Cal women extend winning streak over UPJ to 21 games
Associated Press
Talia Gilliard scored a game-high 23 points to help the California women’s basketball team continue its run of dominance over PItt-Johnstown with a 70-52 road victory in PSAC West play Saturday.
The Vulcans (6-5, 9-8) have won 21 consecutive games over the Mountain Cats (0-11, 2-16), a streak that dates back over a decade.
Cal led by two at halftime, but used an 18-8 advantage in the second quarter to run its lead to 10. The Vulcans held the Mountain Cats to five made field goals in the entire second half. Pitt-Johnstown was 1-for-14 from the field in the third quarter and made only one of 12 attempts from outside the arc for the entire game.
Gilliard shot 8-of-17 from the floor and five-of-eight from the free-throw line to score 20-plus points for the second consecutive game.
Nina Shaw and Alicia Young scored eight points each for the Vulcans.
Belle Bosch led Pitt-Johnstown with 18 points and M’laya Ainsworth scored 11.
Waynesburg 91, Thiel 75
The Waynesburg women’s basketball team continued its winning ways with a 91-75 triumph at Thiel Saturday afternoon.
The Yellowjackets have won three out of their last four games. Waynesburg’s record rose to 9-7 overall and 4-7 in the Presidents’ Athletic Conference (PAC). Thiel fell to 0-16 on the season and 0-11 in PAC play.
Kara McFadden scored a career-high 24 points on 8-of-14 shooting from the field and went 4-for-8 from three and 4-for-4 from the foul line. She added six rebounds, four assists and four steals.
Waynesburg Central grad Clara-Paige Miller and Trinity grad Macie Justice had 11 points apiece. Miller added four rebounds and Justice shot 3-for-6 from beyond the arc.
Waynesburg posted its second-highest point total of the season and made 13 threes at 37.1 percent, the second-most in a single game this season. The Jackets racked up 65 bench points and finished with an 18-12 advantage in the turnover margin.
Kayley Risser had 26 points for Thiel.
Men’s Basketball
Pitt-Johnstown 105, California 93
Donald Whitehead, Jr. scored a career-high 28 points, but California dropped a 105-93 decision at Pitt-Johnstown in PSAC West action on Saturday afternoon.
The Vulcans held a 70-68 lead with 11 and half minutes remaining in regulation before the Mountain Cats used a 16-2 run to take control.
It was the first loss for the Vulcans (5-6, 10-9) at Pitt-Johnstown (5-6, 9-9) since the 2019-20 season.
Pitt-Johnstown outrebounded Cal 40-29.
Baden Forup came off the bench to score a team-best 24 points for the Mountain Cats. Ryan Smith contributed 22 points and Sean Dillon scored 21.
Whitehead Jr. sank a half dozen shots from beyond the arc.
Cam Polak tallied 20 points for Cal behind four three-pointers and went eight-of-eight from the foul line. Jordyn Buchanan finished with 18 points with five 3-pointers and Keondre DeShields scored 12 points.
Thiel 77, Waynesburg 52
A dreadful first half sank Waynesburg Saturday at Thiel in a PAC loss.
The Yellowjackets (4-7, 6-10) trailed 41-16 at halftime and made only seven of 30 shots from the field.
Thiel (5-6, 6-9) finished the first half on a 26-5 run, which spanned nearly 11 mintues.
Marlon Ellerbee paced the Tomcats with 19 points. Gabriel Gonzalez added 13 points and Khmani Accrusio-Harris scored 10.
Scott Bilovus led Waynesburg, scoring 12 points off the bench. He hit a trio of 3-pointers and made three free throws after being fouled on another 3-point attempt.
Korey Mitchum finished with 11 points, PJ Suggs scored eight and Antone Baker had five points and 11 rebounds.