The Slippery Rock University women’s basketball team suffered a 78-55 loss against the California University of Pa. Lady Vulcans on Wednesday night.
Slippery Rock kept the game close during the first half, trailing just one point behind the Lady Vulcans.
Cal quickly stole the momentum from the Rock and put together an 18-0 run opening the second half.
SRU was finally able to find the net with 12:17 left to play in the second half, thanks to a shot from junior Alexas Brown.
“They (Cal) really raised the bar in their attack and speed,” head coach Tanya Longo said about Cal’s 18-0 game changing run. “They had great isolation with their premier players and were extremely successful at placing their players where they needed to be.”
The loss became the 23rd consecutive loss to the Lady Vulcans for Slippery Rock.
It also dropped their season record to 4-20 overall and 3-17 in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference.
Despite the statistics, Coach Longo is optimistic about the program’s future.
“The picture for me is that of the big picture and the growth process of the program and the individuals. We have our best basketball yet to be played with this group,” Longo said. “We work on getting better every day. It doesn’t matter if it’s the first game or the last of the season.”
Sophomore Simone Aladenoye led the Rock with 10 points and also pulled down seven rebounds.
Senior Erinne Cunningham increased her double-digit scoring streak to 11 of the last 13 games with a 10-point performance.
Brown, sophomore D’Asia Chambers, and senior Christa Wodarczyk each contributed six points of their own in the loss.
Last week, the Rock women fought against Edinboro University at Morrow Fieldhouse on Saturday afternoon.
The Lady Scots are ranked 21st in the nation with a 17-5 season record, 14-4 in the PSAC.
The contest was tough, but SRU was unable to secure the win and fell 70-60 against the PSAC opponent.
At the half, Slippery Rock entered the locker-room with a slight lead over the Lady Scots, 34-32.
The Lady Scots came ready to play right at the start of the second half, putting together an 8-0 run which proved to be too much for the Rock to overcome.
Slippery Rock connected for a solid 44.1 percent of their shots in the first half and struggled in the second half shooting 28.1 percent.
“Edinboro definitely picked up their intensity in the second half,” Coach Longo said in regards to the drop in shooting percentage and scoring. “Theye were far more aggressive and we just didn’t match that rise in intensity level.”
Chambers led the Rock with 12 points as a starter. Cunningham tallied 11 points, scoring in double digits for the 10th time in the last 12 games.
Brown contributed nine points and pulled down six rebounds, and Wodarczyk scored eight points in the contest.
Slippery Rock will host Indiana University of Pa. Saturday at Morrow Fieldhouse with a 1 p.m. game time tip off.
This will be the last home game of the season for the Rock, as well as their annual “White Out” game.
They will close out the season next Wednesday at Gannon University.
This Saturday is also Senior Day and Cunningham, Wodarczyk and Emilee Vitez will be honored prior to the game. The men’s basketball team will play IUP at 3 p.m.
