Strong second quarter leads to season sweep over Pacific Union

VALLEJO, Calif. – Women's basketball led by five points at the end of the first quarter of Saturday's Cal Pac Conference game at PEAC Main Gym, but the Keelhaulers blew the game open in the second period by outscoring the Pioneers, 23-11, throughout the next 10 minutes of action.

In the second period alone, the Keelhaulers scored hit half of their 14 shots from the floor, half of their six attempts from three and scored another six points at the line. By comparison, PUC shot 1-for-15 overall (.067 pct.); its one basket was scored from three out of 6 attempts that period (.167).

What started before halftime continued after the break as Cal Maritime shot .415 overall and limited their rivals to a .164 shooting clip to defeat Pacific Union, 73-41, and sweep the season series. 

The team's four-game homestand will continue Thursday against Embry-Riddle in a 5:30 p.m. league matchup; CSUM will return to its home court with a 2-15 overall and 2-11 Cal Pac record. The Pioneers will return to Angwin with respective records of 0-21 and 0-13.

Led by Alicia Porter and her 22 rebounds, four shy of matching her career high set last season at Pacific Union, the Keelhaulers outrebounded the Pioneers by 20 — CSUM finished with a season-high 61 — and 22 on the defensive glass (52-30). In addition to Porter, Anika Carey was a force in the paint all night long and finished with a career-high 18 rebounds.

Combined, the Keelhaulers' top two rebounders finished one shy of matching PUC's team total.

By scoring a game-high 26 points, Porter notched her 14th double-double of the season. 

Also enjoying a stellar night was Dylan Fulton, who posted 18 points and seven rebounds before departing the game late in the fourth quarter.

In addition to owning the glass on both ends of the court, Cal Maritime scored 28 of its points in the paint, which helped it hold a game-high 34-point lead with just over a minute remaining in the game.

Thursday's game vs. Embry-Riddle is the first of three taking place within a four-day timespan since Benedictine Mesa (Friday, 5:30 p.m.) and Park Gilbert (next Sunday, 5:30 p.m.) are slated to visit Vallejo next weekend.