CALIFORNIA, Pa. - No. 6 California (Pa.) forced 24 turnovers and held the nation's top-shooting team to 33.9-percent shooting en route to a 68-56 victory over No. 24 Gannon Wednesday evening in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Western Division women's basketball opener for both squads.

Gannon entered Wednesday's showdown ranked No. 1 among NCAA Division II programs in overall field goal percentage (49.7) and three-point field goal percentage (43.6). But the Vulcans, who returned all five starters from last year's NCAA Division II Final Four squad, limited the Lady Knights to 33.9-percent (20-59) overall shooting and 29.2-percent (7-24) shooting from behind the arc.

Head coach Cleve Wright's squad held a pair of one-point leads early in the first half. The last one came at 10-9 on Abby Bunstine's (Chillicothe, Ohio/Chillicothe) three-pointer with 13:41 remaining in the half.

California (Pa.) later snapped a 12-12 tie with a 12-3 run midway through the first stanza, capped by Crystal Andrews' triple at the 8:50 mark. Kayla Smith ignited the run with three consecutive lay-ups, before Andrews hit back-to-back three-pointers. Brooque Williams' lay-up with 1:58 remaining sent Cal to the intermission with a 36-24 lead, the home team's biggest advantage of the half.

The Vulcans grabbed their biggest lead of the evening at 38-24 after Williams opened the second half with a steal and a lay-up. The teams played on even terms until a mini 5-0 run by Gannon cut the deficit to 52-47. Kristina Freeman (Yonkers, N.Y./Pelham Memorial) converted a driving lay-up and three-pointer to bring the Lady Knights within five points at the 11:22 mark.

However, California (Pa.) immediately responded with consecutive baskets to move its lead back to nine. Gannon was never able to get closer than six points the rest of the way as the host Vulcans captured a 68-56 victory.

Freeman led all scorers with 23 points, reaching the 20-point plateau for the fourth time this season. The junior guard hit five three-pointers while adding four rebounds, three assists, two steals, and one block.

Brittany Tabron (Canton, Ohio/Canton Central Catholic) recorded her second consecutive double-double and fifth of the season with 14 points and a career-high 17 rebounds.

Gannon shot 33.9 percent (20-59) from the field, 29.2 percent (7-24) from three-point range, and 75 percent (9-12) from the free throw line. The Lady Knights out-rebounded their opponent for the 16th consecutive game with a 42-38 edge on the glass.

Smith and Williams both posted double-doubles in the Cal victory. Smith had 21 points and 11 rebounds while Williams recorded 20 points and 10 rebounds. Crystal Andrews added 12 markers.
California (Pa.) shot 42.2 percent (27-64) from the floor, 35.3 percent (6-17) from behind the arc, and 57.1 percent (8-14) from the charity stripe.

Gannon saw its nine-game win streak snapped while dropping to 12-2 overall and 0-1 in the PSAC West. California (Pa.) won its sixth consecutive game while improving to 12-2 overall and 1-0 in conference play. The Lady Knights return to action Saturday, January 17 against Clarion at the Hammermill Center. Game time is scheduled for 3 p.m.

For a complete box score from Wednesday's Gannon-Cal women's basketball game, please click here.