ERIE, Pa.- The Mercyhurst women's basketball team lost, 65-60, to California (Pa.) Saturday afternoon. The Vulcans won the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Western Division contest, part of the PSAC's Hooping for a Cure program.
 
The game was tight throughout. Down the stretch, Dana Banda had a three-point play and then drained a jumper. She found Megan Hoffman for a trey with 6:32 to play, giving Hurst a 52-50 lead. Amy Johns converted two free throws, but Banda came back with a basket in the paint. Johns made her move after that, scoring the next seven points of the game to put Cal up 59-54 with 3:07 showing on the clock.
 
Hoffman hit two free throws to cut the lead to four, but Johns answered with two more free throws. Cal went 4-4 from the line in the final minute, not allowing the Lakers a chance for the tying shot.
 
The teams came out rolling in the first half, as Danielle Luckett opened scoring with a bucket on the first possession. Emma Mahady followed for the visitors with a jumper, but Megan Hoffman drained back-to-back three-pointers around an Johns basket to tie the score at six. Nikki Frederickson and Ryah Gadson traded hoops and then Banda sank a trey with 15:29 left, putting Hurst ahead 11-8.
 
Selena Adamshick answered with a three of her own and then Luckett made a layup. Lindsey Burke came back with a lay-in and a free throw to give the hosts a 14-13 edge with 13:00 to go. The Vulcans went on a 6-0 spurt to take the lead, but Frederickson connected from deep and then Kaylee Foster converted two free throws to tie the game at 19 with 8:35 to play.
 
Frederickson's three-point play with 7:02 remaining put the hosts back ahead and then Foster followed with a bucket to expand the margin. A few minutes later, Johns and Kelsey Trosch traded scores, but Trosch hit from baseline again with just over three minutes on the clock. Two Hoffman free throws stretched the edge to 20-26, but Cal scored the final four points of the half, sending the teams into the break tied.
 
Abby Allen started the second frame with basket to give Mercyhurst a two-point advantage. California answered with the next seven points, but Burke hit a triple and then Frederickson made a layup to even the score at 37 with 15:17 left. Another Frederickson hoop was met by a Mahady bucket to tie the contest again.
 
Hoffman connected from downtown, but Johns split two free throws and Chelsea McKnight scored as Cal took a slim lead. Banda started looking for her shot and went inside for lay-in. Johns responded with a lay-in and Gadson scored, putting the Vulcans up six with 9:25 to go.
 
Hoffman led the Lakers with 16 points, hitting four treys. Banda and Frederickson each scored 14 points. Banda dished out eight assists, while Frederickson grabbed nine rebounds. Johns paced Cal with 22 points and eight boards.
 
Hurst hit 21-43 (48.8 percent) field goal attempts, while the Vulcans converted 25-61 (41 percent) shots. Mercyhurst had a 20-14 advantage in points in the paint.
 
With the loss, Mercyhurst is eliminated from PSAC Tournament contention. It is 11-13 overall and 9-11 in the conference. California improved to 16-8 overall and 13-7 in the PSAC with the victory. It clinched a spot in the conference tournament.
 
Hurst hosts second-ranked Edinboro Wednesday. Tip-off is slated for 5:30 p.m. at the MAC.
 
For a box score of the California-Mercyhurst game, please click here.