TAMPA, Fla. (April 6) – The California University of Pennsylvania women's basketball team was honored as the recipient of the fourth-annual Russell Athletic "Together We R" Team Award at the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) Awards Show on Monday night.

The "Together We R" Team Award honors programs that have strived to succeed in the face of adversity, overcoming extraordinary circumstances such as an unforeseen team crisis, barrier or unfortunate situation that caused extra stress. The team must exemplify strong commitment to core values of togetherness, courage, unparalleled work ethic and heart, and must personify the "Together We R" belief that teams are stronger than individuals.

On Jan. 18, Cal U suffered its biggest loss of the season when senior Shanice Clark passed away at the age of 21. The Vulcans lost their initial game after Clark passed before registering an eight-game win streak. Cal U finished the regular season in second place in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West standings before posting three double-digit victories in the league tournament to capture the program's first PSAC Championship since 2006.

The Vulcans then earned the top seed for the Atlantic Regional Tournament and registered three wins at home to earn an appearance at the NCAA Division II Elite Eight. While in South Dakota, Cal U earned an overtime victory in the Elite Eight before posting a five-point victory in the national semifinals and then registered an 86-69 victory in the National Championship.

Under fourth-year head coach Jess Strom, Cal U finished the season with a 32-4 overall record (18-2 since Clark's passing) to mark the third-winningest season in program history. The Vulcans captured both the PSAC and NCAA regional titles in the same year for the third time in school history with the last coming in 2004, which was also when the program won its first NCAA Division II National Championship.

The WBCA announced the three finalists for the "Together We R" Team Award on March 16. Fans were encouraged to vote for the award by "liking" the team's video on the WBCA's YouTube channel and the Vulcans earned the fan's choice after totaling more than 6,900 views and 540 "likes."