WEST LIBERTY, W.Va. – All-America senior guard Kailee Howe scored 26 of her game-high 35 points in the second half Sunday afternoon as No. 21 West Liberty ran away from defending national champion and No. 5-ranked California (Pa.), 88-65, in the final game of the MEC/PSAC Crossover at the ASRC.

Coach Lynn Ullom's Hilltoppers (2-0) held the Vulcans (1-1) to 24 percent shooting in the first half and led by as many as 29 points down the stretch in an early-season showdown of Top 25 Atlantic Region powers that didn't quite live up to its billing.

"That was a quality win against a quality program that we have a ton of respect for," Ullom said. "I thought our team defense was phenomenal and I give the kids all the credit. They did a great job paying attention to the game plan and then went out and executed it about as well as they possibly could.

"Of course, it helps when you have a player the caliber of a Kailee Howe having one of her special games."

Howe led the nation with 300 assists last season – the fourth-highest total in NCAA Division II history – but also averaged better than 15 points a night. That ability to score on her own or create great scoring chances for her teammates was a problem California was unable to solve on Sunday.

The teams battled to a 16-16 deadlock after one quarter but the Hilltopper defense clamped down in the second quarter, holding the Vulcans to just one field goal in the period while building a double-digit lead they would never relinquish.

Howe capped a 13-2 Hilltopper run at the end of the quarter by driving down the middle of the lane to draw the defense into the paint only to whip a laser-like pass to freshman Brandi Beader in the left corner. Beader's dagger of a 3-pointer splashed through the twine at the buzzer for a 39-25 halftime lead. 

"One of the things I really liked about this weekend – along with the two wins, of course – was that we were able to get a lot of quality minutes for some of our younger kids," Ullom said. "You never know what to expect in those situations but I was very pleased with how they responded."

Along with her 35 points, Howe stuffed the stat sheet with 7 assists, 6 rebounds and 4 steals. Fellow senior guard Liz Flowers, another preseason All-American, added 18 points and 6 rebounds while filling a key defensive role. Senior post Kiki Simpson finished with 10 points and 8 rebounds despite missing significant playing time due to foul problems.

Preseason All-America guard Miki Glenn paced California with 23 points – including an 11-of-12 showing from the foul line – while Seairra Barrett had a double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds. Precious Martin also scored 12 points in a losing cause.

"This was a very good win but we have to remember it's only November," Ullom said. "There's a lot of basketball left to play. We'll enjoy this for about 20 hours and then we'll be back out on the practice court trying to get better."

The Lady Hilltoppers head to Columbus on Tuesday for a non-conference test against unbeaten Ohio Dominican. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m.