CALIFORNIA (Feb. 29) – The California University of Pennsylvania women's basketball team closed the regular season with a 63-59 loss on Senior Day against Gannon at the Convocation Center in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West action.
With the loss, the Vulcans finish the regular season at 20-8 overall with a 14-8 record in league play. Cal U earned the fourth seed in the upcoming PSAC Tournament and will face Pitt-Johnstown in the opening round on Monday, March 2. Meanwhile, the Lady Knights improve to 22-6 this season behind an 18-4 mark in conference action.
Sophomore
Shauna Harrison (Sheffield, England/Myerscough) led the team with 19 points while shooting 6-of-15 from the floor, including four-of-eight from beyond the arc. She also led the team with nine rebounds and added three steals while playing 28 minutes on Saturday. Harrison has scored in double-digits 12 times in her first year as a starter.
Senior
DJ Hahn (Warren, Pa./Warren) added 16 points behind three-of-eight from long range and four rebounds while playing a season-high 35 minutes off the bench. Freshman
Olivia Hudson (Altoona, Pa./Altoona) finished with 11 points, four rebounds and four steals in 31 minutes off the bench against the Lady Knights.
The Vulcans made a trio of three-pointers in just over two minutes midway through the first quarter to take a 9-6 lead at the 5:03-mark. Gannon then held Cal U scoreless for the remainder of the quarter while take a 12-9 lead at the end of the first quarter. The Vulcans snapped a seven-minute scoreless drought by mounting a 15-3 run, including 10 points from Harrison and Hudson, to take a 24-17 lead with 2:39 left before halftime. Gannon responded with an 8-3 rally to trim the deficit to 27-25 at the break after converting a traditional three-point play just before the buzzer.
Gannon registered a 7-2 run midway through the third quarter to tie the score at 34-34 at the 5:16-mark. Following a three-pointer by Hahn on the ensuing possession, the Lady Knights scored seven of the final eight points of the quarter to take a 41-38 lead. Early in the fourth quarter, Gannon posted an 11-3 run to stretch the lead to 52-43 with 5:32 left to play. The Vulcans scored seven-straight points to trim the deficit to 52-50 on a jumper by Harrison at the 3:55-mark before the Lady Knights made back-to-back baskets to seize a 57-50 lead with 2:40 remaining. Harrison made a three-pointer with 48 seconds left before Gannon made five-of-six from the free-throw line to seal the victory.
The Vulcans finished the game shooting 36.7 percent (22-of-60) from the floor after going 10-of-32 (31.3 percent) from beyond the arc. Meanwhile, the Lady Knights converted 40.4 percent (21-of-52) from the field and 83.3 percent (15-of-18) from the free-throw line. Gannon held a sizeable 40-28 rebounding advantage and scored 30 points in the paint.
Sophomore Tori Obenrader recorded a double-double with 15 points and a team-high 11 rebounds (four offensive) on Saturday. Senior Haley Tewes also posted 15 points and seven rebounds, while classmate Chelsea Rourke added nine points, five rebounds and three assists in the victory.
Cal U returns to action on Monday, March 2, when it faces Pitt-Johnstown in the PSAC Tournament at the Convocation Center with tip-off at 5:30 p.m.
