CAL WOMEN RALLY FOR 77-72 SEASON-OPENING WIN OVER SHEPHERD

Courtesy of California (Pa.) Sports Information

California sophomore guard Keris Timol (Unionville, Ont./Albert Campbell) scored a team-high 18 points in her first game for the Vulcans and senior guard Lisa Gottuso (Ellwood City, Pa./Lincoln) added 14 points, including the go-ahead bucket in the final minute, to lead the Vulcans to a 77-72 season-opening victory over Shepherd in the annual Holiday Inn Classic at Hamer Hall.

Senior guard Megan Storck (Macungie, Pa./Emmaus) added nine points, four rebounds, six assists and six steals for the Vulcans, who outscored the Rams 12-2 in the final five minutes of the game to gain the victory.

Shepherd, which held a seven-point halftime lead, was led by senior forward Casey Landrum with 21 points, including three of the Rams' seven three-point goals, and five rebounds. Sophomore Tiffany Acker added two long-range shots on the way to a 14-point performance while classmate Laura Harkins added 13 points and five caroms.

Shepherd led for most of the first half and took a 40-33 lead to the halftime break. Landrum led Shepherd's 13-4 run in the final 5:38 of the half, finishing the opening 20 minutes with 12 points, including two buckets from long range.

Acker added 11 in the first half for the visitors while Storck led the hosts with six points, three assists, three boards and two steals in the first half.

Cal answered quickly in the second half, scoring the first six points and eventually working to a 53-45 lead with 13:01 left in the game on the first of Timol's two three-point goals during the period.

That's when Cal's offense went dry for just over five minutes, allowing the visitors to score 15-straight point. Harkins had five points and Fisher had four during the run, that was capped by one of Acker's two treys with 9:27 left.

The Rams held onto the lead until an April Smith (East Orange, N.J./St. Mary's) layup with 5:34 evened the game at 65. Harkins scored the next five points of the game to rebuild Shepherd's lead to 70-65 with 5:02 left before the Vulcans put together a game-winning run.

Soph. forward Kim Nowakowski (Butler, Pa./Butler), who finished with eight points and a team-high six rebounds, kicked the hosts into gear with two free throws. Gottuso followed with a bucket, but Landrum answered with Shepherd's last points of the game on a hoop with 3:33 left.

Buckets by Timol and Gottuso gave Cal a 73-72 lead with 59 seconds left. Storck and Gottuso then sandwiched free throws around a Timol layup to seal the victory.

The Holiday Inn Classic continues Saturday as Shepherd faces Dowling (0-1) at 2 p.m. at Hamer Hall. The Vulcans will then challenge Dowling Sunday at 2 p.m.