California (PA) came out of the gates on fire and shot 62% in the first half to build a large lead on its way to an 89-43 PSAC Western Division victory over the Pitt-Johnstown women, Wednesday evening at the Convocation Center in California.  Riley Childress' 10 points led the Mountain Cats, now 3-22 overall and 1-17 in conference-play.
 
Along with Childress, Camille Dominick had nine points and five rebounds and Gianna Gallucci added nine points off the bench for Pitt-Johnstown.  The Mountain Cats also got seven points and five boards from M'laya Ainsworth and five points and six rebounds from Belle Bosch.
 
Cal U got off to a fast start and ran out to a 9-1 lead, before a Childress basket and a conventional 3-point play from Dominick got Pitt-Johnstown back to within three midway through the opening quarter.  The Vulcans hit six of their next nine shots to outscore the Mountain Cats 14-0 over the final 5:19, including Talia Gilliard's 3-pointer with under a minute remaining, to build a 23-6 advantage.
 
The red-hot shooting Vulcans kept it going and scored the first 11 points of the second quarter to extend the run to 25-0 and push the lead out to 34-6 at the 6:48 mark on another Gilliard bucket.  After Childress' layup ended the streak, Cal U used three more of Gilliard's 20 first half points to help the Vulcans take a 47-12 advantage at the break.
 
The Mountain Cats picked up the pace and made five of their first six attempts and shot 55% in the third quarter.  A three-pointer from Ainsworth and five consecutive points from Childress to cut it to 31, before Dominick's basket in the paint with four minutes left in the quarter got the deficit under 30.  However, Cal U regained control and took a 69-30 lead into the fourth quarter on their way to their to their fourth straight victory.
 
Pitt-Johnstown just couldn't keep the offense going on a consistent basis and was held to 28.3% (15-53) shooting and 3-9 from 3-point range.  The Vulcans ended the game shooting 57.4% (35-61) from the field and 8-20 from behind the arc.  The Mountain Cats were 10-13 from the line, and Cal U made 11 of its 12 free-throws.
 
Gilliard's game-high 20 points and Allycia Harris' 10 points and game best 12 rebounds paced four Vulcans who scored in double figures.
 
With the win, Cal U improved to 15-10 overall and 11-7 in the PSAC.
 
Pitt-Johnstown will host No. 22/25 Gannon as part of a PSAC Western Division doubleheader with the men's team for Saturday's 2024-25 home finale, before closing out the season with a conference game at Seton Hill on Wednesday.