Simpson pulls away late in the start of Cal Maritime's final three-game homestand

VALLEJO, Calif. – Following an action-packed opening quarter of Saturday's Cal Pac game at PEAC Main Gym, Cal Maritime trailed Simpson by one entering the second 10-minute session of the night.

After the Red Hawks scored six of the game's first eight points, the Keelhaulers were responsible for eight of the next 11, which led to its first lead of the game. They erased that early deficit, thanks to consecutive jumpers from Kai Kraus, and four points from Alicia Porter, with a pair scored at the line and another on a layup.

The back-and-forth battle continued, as the quarter progressed, when Dylan Fulton scored four straight of her own to pull her team within one, at 17-16, with just over a minute left in the period.

Even though Simpson extended that one-point lead to seven at halftime, the Keelhaulers made it work for every look at the basket, and remained within striking distance with 20 minutes left to play. But it was the third quarter that Simpson started to pull away for good in a game it won by a score of 83-60.

With this result, the Keelhaulers will continue their final homestand of the season on Tuesday, with a 5:30 p.m. matchup against UC Merced, and enter that contest at 1-12 overall and 1-4 in league play. Simpson will continue its season at 5-14 and 3-4.

Reigning NAIA National Player of the Week Porter logged her fifth-consecutive double-double by finishing with 29 points and 14 rebounds, both game highs. Kai Kraus and Marissa Serrano also finished in double figures by scoring 13 and 12 points apiece.

Fulton's presence down low led to nine rebounds, all earned on the defensive glass.