SLIPPERY ROCK - The good news for the Slippery Rock University women's basketball team was that it forced California (Pa.) into playing The Rock's style of game.

The bad news is the Vulcans still found a way to win.

After trailing 29-24 at halftime, Cal's defense responded by surrendering just 17 points in the second half in a 51-46 win Monday night at Morrow Field House.

The Vulcans, defending Division II national champions, entered the game ranked No. 11 in the country.

"I'll take this kind of effort any day," said SRU coach Laurel Heilman. "I think our players entered this game believing they could win and that's half the battle."

Trailing 49-46 with 27 seconds remaining in the game, The Rock had the ball with four seconds left on the shot clock.

Senior forward Stacey Green's shot was blocked in the paint by Cal's Erin Dillon before Megan Storck made it a two possession game by making one of two free throws at the other end.

"This is a character builder for us," said Cal coach Darcie Vincent. "It's going to better prepare us for the playoffs."

The Vulcans (18-4, 6-1) were unable to find a rhythm on offense in the first half.

SRU held leads of 16-8, 19-10 and 25-15 within the first 13 minutes of play.

Green scored eight of her team-leading 12 points in the first half while Amber McFeely scored seven points and dished out seven of her nine assists to help SRU (7-15, 1-6) lead at the break.

"We were finishing a bunch of shots that we haven't been making this year," said Heilman. "And on defense, we were playing with a lot of intensity."

Cal's Sara McKinney (10) and Butler High School graduate Kim Nowakowski (4) scored their team's first 14 points of the second half as the Vulcans hung on to a modest lead throughout the final 12 minutes of play.

"Our defense, giving up just 17 points in the second half, that was big," said Vincent. "We wouldn't be (18-4) if it wasn't for that group."

Nowakowski ended the night with four points and five rebounds to go along with an assist, steal and a block.

McKinney led all scorers with 17 points, making her Cal's all-time leading scorer with 1,896 career points.

SRU will host Edinboro at 6 p.m. Wednesday night.

CALIFORNIA (51)

Lisa Gottuso 4-7 0-0 8, Dani Mills 2-6 1-2 5, Erin Dillon 2-9 0-0 4, Kim Nowakowski 2-7 0-0 4, Sara McKinney 7-18 3-5 17, Saramarie Bukas 1-2 2-2 4, Megan Storck 2-7 1-2 6, Devon Powers 1-2 1-2 3. Totals: 21-58 8-13 51.

SLIPPERY ROCK (46)

Amber McFeely 3-8 0-0 7, Stacey Green 6-13 0-3 12, Amanda Chojnacki 4-7 0-1 8, Kristen Bonner 3-7 0-0 9, KellyAnn Staudinger 2-6 2-2 6, Angela Greaser 0-1 0-0 0, Dana Stewart 0-1 1-2 1, Erin Frankovich 1-3 1-1 3. Totals: 19-46 4-9 46.

Halftime - SRU, 29-24. 3-point goals - CU 1-5 (Storck 1-2, Dillon 0-2, Gottuso 0-1), SRU 4-10 (McFeely 1-3, Bonner 3-6, Greaser 0-1). Rebounds - CU 37 (McKinney 7), SRU 34 (Green 7). Assists - CU 14 (Gottuso 4), SRU 14 (McFeely 9). Total fouls - CU 13, SRU 13. Fouled out - none; Technical fouls - none.