CLARION, Pa. – The Golden Eagle women's basketball team fell in their penultimate game of the 2019-20 season, dropping a 65-45 decision to Cal U in Tippin Gym on Saturday afternoon.  Clarion (4-23, 2-19 PSAC) will close their season on Wednesday when they host nationally-ranked IUP at 5:30 p.m.
 
Emily Hegedus led the Golden Eagles in scoring 14 points on an efficient 5-of-7 shooting performance from the field, and also pulled down a team-high seven rebounds.  Neely Whitehead and Celeste Ryman both came up just short of double-digits in scoring, finishing with nine points apiece. 
 
The Vulcans built their advantage in part because of their ability to create turnovers, forcing 25 giveaways from the Golden Eagles and scoring 21 points off them.  They were effective on the fast break as well, outscoring Clarion 20-2 in quick transition situations.  Olivia Hudson came off the bench to lead Cal U with 16 points on the afternoon.
 
Clarion got out to an early lead, with Hegedus sinking a pair of free throws to make it 5-4 in the first quarter.  Whitehead made a three-pointer from the corner to bump the lead to 8-6 but Cal U responded and took a 10-8 lead on a make from Bianca Jasper.  It stayed within one possession for the rest of the quarter, with Hegedus scoring off an assist from Olivia Boocks to cut the lead to 13-12 with 2:45 remaining.  The Vulcans improved their lead to double-digits by the middle of the second quarter, with Hudson sinking a midrange jumper to make it 27-17, and Ahmya Woodyard scored with less than a second on the clock to set the halftime deficit at 37-22.
 
The gulf expanded in the second half, going over 20 points after Halle Herrington's fast break three-pointer at the 6:17 mark, and the Vulcans settled into a comfortable lead the rest of the way.