CALIFORNIA, Pa. – The West Liberty University women's basketball team kept things close but couldn't get over the hump here Saturday night as top-seeded and No. 14-ranked California (Pa.) held on for a 69-64 win against the Lady Hilltoppers in an NCAA Division II Atlantic Region semifinal at Hamer Hall.

The Vulcans (27-4) went ahead to stay about five minutes into the first half but Coach Lynn Ullom's Hilltoppers (24-9), who battled foul problems most of the night, refused to fold.

California was never able to push the margin into double figures and settled for a 30-23 lead at the half.

West Liberty took a big hit at the 17:30 mark of the second half when leading scorer Liz Flowers went to the bench with her fourth personal foul but Kailee Howe and Hillary Southworth were able to pick up the scoring slack and keep the Hilltoppers in contact.

The Black and Gold got the running game going for a spell midway through the second half and pulled within two points, 53-51, when Jenn Mohney finished off a fast-break assist from Southworth with just under 8 minutes remaining.

Miki Glenn answered with a pair of free throws for California but Howe darted into the lane for a floater, cutting the lead to 55-53 with 5:53 to go.

West Liberty got a defensive stop at the other end of the court only to see the Vulcans' Emma Mahady rebound her own missed shot and whip a pass out to Kaitlynn Fratz for a 3-pointer, giving the hosts a 58-53 lead heading into the final five minutes.

The Hilltoppers had a golden opportunity to make a run but turned the ball over on four straight possessions with Fratz turning the fourth turnover into a runout layup for a 60-53 lead with 3:19 to go.

Howe went 1-for-2 from the foul line but Cece Dixon lobbed in a dagger of a 3-pointer for a 63-54 lead – the Vulcans' largest of the night – with 2:45 remaining and West Liberty couldn't get closer than four points the rest of the way.

Howe finished with a game-high 27 points and Southworth added 17 as each starter played all 40 minutes. Kiki Simpson turned in yet another double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds.

Glenn led California with 18 points – including a clutch 8-for-8 from the foul line – while Fratz chipped in with 14 points. Irina Kukolj had a dozen points and Mahady finished with 11 points and 10 boards.

The No. 14 Vulcans will host No. 15 Bloomsburg (26-4) in Monday's Atlantic Region championship game. Bloomsburg eliminated Shepherd, 81-69, in Saturday's other semifinal.