SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (March 24) – Senior Emma Mahady (Albury, Australia/Xavier) scored a game-high 24 points, including the game-sealing layup in the closing seconds of overtime, as the Vulcans earned an 84-79 win against Nova Southeastern (Fla.) in the Elite Eight on Tuesday afternoon at the Sanford Pentagon.

With the victory, the No. 14 California University of Pennsylvania women's basketball team improves to 30-4 overall and will face Emporia State (Kan.) in the national semifinals tomorrow, Wednesday, March 25, at 7 p.m. EST. The game will broadcast live across the country on CBS College Sports Network. Meanwhile, No. 18 Nova Southeastern closes the year with a 27-6 overall record after advancing to the Elite Eight for the third-consecutive season.

Mahady, who finished just two points shy of matching her career high, posted 24 points after shooting 10-of-18 from the floor, including four-of-seven from beyond the arc. She also collected five rebounds, three blocks and two steals while playing all 45 minutes on Tuesday. Mahady posted her second 20-point game of this post-season, as she previously scored 21 points against West Chester in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Championship on March 8.

Fellow senior Kaitlynn Fratz (Accident, Md./Northern Garrett) added 21 points in the victory, making 5-of-12 attempts from the field and 9-of-11 from the free-throw line. She tallied four rebounds, two assists and four steals, while also playing all 45 minutes against the Sharks. Sophomore guard Miki Glenn (Bridgeport, W.Va./Bridgeport) finished with 17 points, eight rebounds, three assists and two steals, while senior forward Irina Kukolj (Harrisonburg, Va./Harrisonburg) posted 14 points and eight rebounds in the victory.

In overtime, both teams were held scoreless for the initial two minutes before Fratz made a three-pointer with 3:00 left to play. The Sharks countered with a three-pointer on the ensuing possession before the Vulcans scored the next five points to take an 80-75 lead on a layup by Kukolj with 2:09 remaining. The teams traded baskets over the next minute-plus with NSU cutting the deficit to 82-79 with 50.1 seconds left to play. Mahady eventually sealed the win by forcing a turnover and scoring a fastbreak layup with 4.2 seconds remaining.

Cal U jumped out to an 8-2 lead in the opening two minutes of the game before NSU later mounted a 14-4 run over nearly five minutes to take a 23-19 lead with 10:49 left in the first half. The teams then traded baskets before the Sharks mounted a 9-4 rally to take a 34-31 lead at the 4:58-mark. The Vulcans then countered with seven-unanswered points, all by Fratz and Kukolj, to reclaim the lead at 38-34 after Fratz converted a pair of free-throws. NSU managed to close the half on an 8-4 run, as the teams entered the break tied at 42-42. The Vulcans made over 50 percent from the field in the half behind 6-of-10 shooting by Mahady, who scored 14 first-half points.

The teams traded baskets for the initial six minutes of the second half before the Sharks posted an 8-2 run to take a 58-54 lead with 11:39 remaining in regulation. Cal U responded with a 15-2 rally over almost six minutes, including a span 10-unanswered points, to take a 69-60 lead on a pair of free-throws by Fratz with 5:40 left in the second half. The Sharks were held without a field goal for nearly eight minutes before making a basket at the 4:34-mark. NSU utilized a 10-2 run to cut the deficit 71-70 with 31.0 seconds remaining in regulation. The Vulcans then called their last timeout before Glenn made the first of two free-throw attempts to stretch the lead to 72-70 with 21.2 seconds remaining. On the ensuing possession, Glenn was whistled for a foul with 9.9 seconds left and the Sharks converted both free-throws to tie the game at 72-72. Cal U committed a turnover in the closing seconds, forcing the game into overtime.

Cal U finished the game shooting 41.7 percent (30-of-72) from the floor, including 43.8 percent (7-of-16) from beyond the arc. However, the Vulcans made just 54.8 percent (17-of-31) from the free-throw line in the win. Meanwhile, NSU shot at a 43.1 clip (31-of-72) from the field and 66.7 percent (12-of-18) from the charity stripe. The Sharks held a sizeable 52-42 rebounding advantage and scored 52 points from inside the paint, while the Vulcans totaled 18 points after forcing 21 turnovers.

Senior Danielle Robinson led the Sharks with 20 points (12 first half) after shooting 8-of-20 from the floor and added seven rebounds, four assists and three steals.  Senior Jasmine Wilkins, the Sunshine State Conference (SSC) Player of the Year, finished with 17 points and eight rebounds before fouling out with 1:50 left in regulation.

The Vulcans will face No. 9 Emporia State in the national semifinals tomorrow, March 25, in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, at 7 p.m. EST. The Hornets posted a 62-50 victory over No. 5 West Texas A&M in the Elite Eight on Tuesday after earning the Central Region title on March 16 over top-seeded and No. 6 Fort Hayes State (Kan.).

Notes:
Cal U will play in the national semifinals for the third time in school history (2003, 2004) and improve to 3-2 all-time in the national quarterfinals (Elite Eight) … The Vulcans have reached the 30-win mark for the third time in school history, reaching at least the national semifinals each time … The Vulcans and Sharks combined for 12 lead changes and 15 ties … Cal U has played in back-to-back overtime games and improves to 3-1 this year when going to overtime … The Vulcans hold a 7-1 record against nationally-ranked opponents this season … Cal U (2004) and Emporia State (2010) have each claimed the NCAA Division II National Championship once … The Hornets have won three-consecutive Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA) Tournament Championships