CALIFORNIA, Pa. - Kayla Smith recorded her 17th double-double of the season as the California (Pa.) women's basketball team slipped by Gannon 71-62 Saturday afternoon in the final regular-season game ever played at Hamer Hall. The Vulcans are scheduled to move into a new arena next year.

California (Pa.) built a double-digit lead midway through the first half and was able to hold off Gannon the rest of the way. The Vulcans led 16-12, before rolling off 10 straight points. Stephanie Michael's three-pointer with 9:38 left in the half gave the Vulcans a 26-12 advantage.

The home team's lead wavered between 12 and 15 points for the final nine minutes, before California (Pa.) took a 41-28 lead into the break. The Vulcans' defensive pressure was one of the first-half keys as Gannon shot only 29 percent (9-31) from the field and turned the ball over 11 times.

The entire second half was played on even terms as neither team was able to put a sizable run together. Gannon did cut the deficit to nine by scoring six straight points after Cal hit its first second-half shot.

Jennifer Papich (Pittsburgh, Pa/Fox Chapel), Caitlyn Lowe (Gettysburg, Pa./Gettysburg) and Kelsey McCoy (Sylvania, Ohio/Sylvania Northview) scored during the mini 6-0 run.

California (Pa.) maintained a lead between nine and 12 points for the next 10 minutes until Gannon tried to make one last run. Trailing 62-50, the Lady Knights produced an 8-3 run. Three different players scored during the run that included four points from Julie Kleber (Suffern, N.Y./Suffern). Her jumper with 2:44 remaining cut the Cal lead to 65-58.

However, Cal's Megan Kermond nailed a three-pointer 12 seconds later to give the Vulcans a 10-point advantage. Moments later, the home squad closed out Hamer Hall with a 71-62 victory.

Kleber led all scorers with 17 points, including nine from three triples. The senior guard has reached double digits in nine consecutive games. Jessie Tamerlano (North Royalton, Ohio/North Royalton) was the only other Lady Knight in double digits with 14 points and eight rebounds.

Gannon shot 40.7 percent (24-59) from the field, including a red-hot 53.6 percent (15-28) clip in the second half. The Lady Knights shot 33.3 percent (4-12) from three-point range and 71.4 percent (10-14) from the free throw line.

Smith headlined the California (Pa.) unit with 15 points, 12 rebounds, five steals and three assists. Kermond and Elena Antonenko added 15 and 11 points off the bench. Michael completed the group of double-digit scorers with 10 markers.

Cal shot 40.3 percent (25-62) from the floor, 43.5 percent (10-23) from behind the arc and 57.9 percent (11-19) from the charity stripe.

Gannon dropped to 11-13 overall and 3-9 in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Western Division with its second consecutive loss. Cal improved to 18-6 overall and 9-3 in conference play. The Lady Knights begin the final week of the regular season Wednesday, February 23 against Slippery Rock at the Hammermill Center. Game time is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.

For a complete box score from Saturday's Gannon-California (Pa.) women's basketball game, please click here.