• Box Score

WEST CHESTER, Pa. (March 7) – Meeting for the third-straight season in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Finals, the No. 3 California University of Pennsylvania women's basketball team suffered a 60-51 overtime loss to rival No. 13 Indiana University of Pennsylvania at Hollinger Fieldhouse on Saturday.

The Vulcans, who won the PSAC West, now hold a 26-4 overall record. With its record and a No. 1 Atlantic Regional ranking entering this week's conference tournament, Cal U is likely to receive a league-best eight-straight selection to the NCAA Tournament.

The NCAA Division II Tournament bracket will be announced tomorrow night, Sunday, March 8, on NCAA.com at 9 p.m.

Senior guard Lindsay Johnson (New Springfield, Ohio/Springfield) led the Vulcans in scoring with 14 points behind four three-pointers. Classmate Crystal Andrews (Johnstown, Pa./Johnstown/Pitt-Johnstown) finished with 12 points, four steals and three assists.

Junior guard Brooque Williams and sophomore forward Kayla Smith (Elkins, W.Va./Elkins) each registered double-doubles in the loss. Williams scored 11 points and grabbed 12 rebounds, while Smith finished with 10 points and 10 rebounds.

After leading 26-18 at halftime, the Vulcans expanded their lead to as many as 10 points, 28-18, in the first 12 seconds of the second half. Cal U held a 49-40 lead with 3:22 remaining after Johnson drilled a three-pointer. However, IUP scored nine-straight points to force the game into overtime when senior Jahzinga Tracey made one-of-two free-throw attempts with eight seconds left after Andrews was called for her fifth foul.

In the extra frame, the Crimson Hawks took their first lead of the game on a free-throw with 4:12 remaining. The Vulcans responded with a jumper by Williams to reclaim the lead 51-50. However, Cal U would not score another bacsket the remainder of the game. The Crimson Hawks tallied jumpers on two-straight possessions before Tracey converted a pair of free-throws after the Vulcans were whistled for a techical foul.

For the game, Cal U shot 37.3 percent (19-of-51) from the floor but only one-of-eight in overtime. Meanwhile, IUP made 33.9 percent (21-of-62) of its shots in the contest inclduing two-of-four in the extra period. The Crimson Hawks also converted 15-of-22 free-throw attempts (68.2 percent) compared to the Vulcans shooting seven-of-nine (77.8 percent) from the charity stripe.

The Vulcans maintained a 41-34 advantage on the glass, but committed 29 turnovers compared to only nine assists on 19 field goals.

Tracey, who was named PSAC Tournament MVP, finished with a game-high 21 points and collected 13 rebounds. Eryn Withers added 14 points for IUP.

Cal U awaits the NCAA Selection Show tomorrow night, Sunday, March 8, at 9 p.m. to see its fate in the NCAA Tournament. The Vulcans hold a 14-6 all-time record (70.0 percent) in NCAA Tournament games.