CLARION, Pa. — The Golden Eagles endured a tough outing against California (PA), falling 86-57 at Tippin Gymnasium.
Aundraya Neavins stood out with 10 points and five steals.
Lia Krarup chipped in nine points, hitting three of her four attempts from beyond the arc and adding four steals.
Zoe Guice led with six assists, while
Alyssa Terza bolstered the defense with two blocks.
The game kicked off with a quick exchange as
Kendall Berger's fastbreak jumper evened the score at 2-2 shortly after the Vulcans opened the scoring. Guice's playmaking was pivotal early on, assisting Berger and driving in for a layup, giving Clarion an initial 4-2 edge. Neavins kept the momentum with a pair of free throws, nudging the score to 9-7 midway through the first. However, Cal surged ahead by the quarter's end, thanks in part to Kennedy Bankett's crucial 3-pointer, leaving Clarion trailing 17-13.
The second quarter posed challenges for the Golden Eagles as Cal went on a substantial run. Neavins tried to close the gap with early free throws, but Cal's fast breaks and paint dominance made it tough for Clarion to keep pace. A momentary spark came from
Arianna Seitz's fastbreak layup, assisted by Berger, but Cal's control remained firm, ending the half with a 41-22 lead.
Facing a daunting third quarter, the Golden Eagles dug deep. Although Cal stretched their lead, highlights included a Berger layup and a Logue 3-pointer, both courtesy of Guice's assists.
In the fourth quarter, Clarion's defense came alive with several early steals. Neavins drove in for a layup, assisted by
Averi Brozeski, while Krarup nailed back-to-back 3-pointers, narrowing the gap to 74-46. Despite their spirited efforts, including a swift layup by Zoé Bayer, Cal's lead proved insurmountable. Neavins capped Clarion's scoring with two free throws, but the game wrapped up with Cal on top.
