California, Pa. – The Edinboro women's basketball team battled, but ultimately fell 70-62 to host California (Pa.) Wednesday night in the PSAC Quarterfinals.
Edinboro trailed 46-44 after three quarters of play and
Bella Burrelli knotted the score with the first bucket of the fourth quarter. Cal answered with a 9-2 run capped by an Allycia Harris layup at the 6:08 mark. The Scots scored back-to-back buckets from Burrelli and
Rana Elhusseini to trim the lead to 55-52 at the 4:54 mark, but Vulcan lead wouldn't dip below three as they held off the Scots over the final four minutes.
In the third, Cal used an 11-6 spurt to start the quarter to take a 44-39 lead with 1:58 remaining in the quarter.
Lauren Mullen hit a triple and Elhusseini scored on a floater to tie the score 44-44. A pair of Rajah Fink free throws gave the Vulcans a 46-44 advantage entering the fourth.
The Vulcans started the game with the first five points. Edinboro found their legs with a 13-7 spurt of their own to take their first lead 13-12 on a
Morgan Gentile layup at the 2:51 mark of the first. Cal scored the next five points to take a 17-13 advantage. Elhusseini cut into the lead with a triple, but Fink hit a pair of free throws while Mullen split a pair to give Cal a 19-17 lead after one.
The second quarter got off to a slow start with neither team scoring in the first 3:50 of the period. Gentile finally broke the scoreless streak with a driving layup to tie the score at 19. The teams traded the lead four times before the Scots took a 26-23 lead on a pair of Elhusseini free throws. Halle Herrington scored the next five points for Cal to retake the lead 28-26. The lead would change hands three more times before the teams went into the break tied 33-33.
Herrington led the Vulcans with 20 points. Fink added a double-double with 19 points and 14 boards. Harris also had a double-double of 11 points and 16 rebounds.
Elhusseini led all scorers with 31 points to go with seven rebounds, three steals and two assists. Burrelli added 16 points and four rebounds.
The Scots finished the season 17-12 overall.
