CALIFORNIA (Feb. 19) – The Vulcans clinched a berth in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Tournament on Wednesday evening with a 71-56 win over Seton Hill in divisional play at the Convocation Center.
With the victory, the California University of Pennsylvania women's basketball team improves to 18-7 this season with a 12-7 record in league action, which is tied for the third-best mark in the PSAC West standings. The Vulcans swept the season series with the Griffins for the only the second time in the last five years. Meanwhile, Seton Hill falls to 13-12 overall behind a 7-12 mark in conference play.
Junior
Bianca Jasper (Middletown, Pa./Middletown) led the team with 19 points (17 first half) on 8-of-13 shooting. She tied her career high with seven steals, plus posted eight rebounds (four offensive) and six assists, while playing all 40 minutes.
Senior
DJ Hahn (Warren, Pa./Warren) added 14 points, six rebounds and three steals off the bench. Freshman
Halle Herrington (Philipsburg, Pa./Philipsburg-Osceola) also scored 14 points on 6-of-10 from the floor despite playing limited minutes in the first half due to foul trouble. Sophomore
Lauren Bennett (Buckhannon, W.Va./Buckhannon-Upshur) posted five points, six rebounds, four assists, one block and two steals in the victory.
The Vulcans opened the game on an 11-3 run after holding the Griffins to one-of-six shooting in the opening four-plus minutes. The teams traded baskets for the remainder of the first quarter with Cal U holding a 19-10 lead. Early in the second quarter, the Vulcans mounted a 15-3 run behind 10 points by Hahn to stretch the lead to 36-15 at the 5:23-mark. Cal U later scored six-straight points before making a basket in the closing seconds to take a 47-27 lead at halftime.
Seton Hill tallied seven-unanswered points early in the third quarter before Cal U responded with a 12-3 rally, including 10 points by Herrington, over nearly three minutes to take a 61-37 lead at the 3:07-mark. The Griffins went nearly seven minutes without a field goal before making a jumper at the buzzer to trim the deficit to 61-42. Midway through the fourth quarter, Cal U scored eight of 10 points to seize a 71-51 lead with 2:09 left to play.
The Vulcans finished the game shooting 39.2 percent (29-of-74) from the floor and made 7-of-21 from long range. Meanwhile, the Griffins posted a .404 field-goal percentage (21-of-52) from the field. Seton Hill held a 46-33 rebounding advantage, however, Cal U forced 28 turnovers in the contest and scored 41 points off turnovers.
Redshirt sophomore Tiana Stewart recorded a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds off the bench. Junior Katie Nolan posted eight points and 11 rebounds (five offensive), while senior Lexi Civittolo finished with 10 points, five rebounds and two blocks in the loss.
Cal U returns to action on Saturday, Feb. 22, when it travels to face Clarion at 1 p.m.
