Gannon - 2009-10 PSAC Women's Basketball Champions
Gannon Tops California for First PSAC Women's Basketball Championship
Box Score
Erie, Pa. - Point guard Tiffany Crocker scored a career-high 27 points, including 22 in the second half to keep Gannon ahead in a close game, and just missed a double-double with nine assists to lead Gannon to its 33rd consecutive win and its first-ever PSAC championship with a 77-68 win over California.
Crocker, who also made 10-of-10 from the free throw line, almost single-handedly gave Gannon breathing space in the second half on several different occasions after Cal had pulled to within a close margin. The Golden Knights led by just four, 43-39 four minutes into the second half but drilled a three and then a jumper on back-to-back possessions to extend the lead to nine. With Gannon up seven with just over seven minutes remaining, she drilled another three to spur another run that put the Knights up by 16. The Vulcans went on a 9-0 run from point to pull within 64-59 with 5:45 remaining. Cal also got to within four at 70-66 with just over a minute remaining on a three-point play by Crystal Andrews, who led the Vulcans with 31 points. But Gannon's Kristina Freeman then hit a three from the corner with 50 seconds left to seal the win.
The Vulcans got the 31 points from Andrews but its two top scorers were held under their averages. Brooque Williams scored 18 and had nine rebounds but Kayla Smith was held to just two points and seven rebounds by Gannon's powerful inside tandem of Brittany Tabron and Kim Vargas. Tabron ended with a double-double with 10 points and 10 boards. Freeman added 14 for the Golden Knights, who made more free throws (19) than Cal attempted (15).
The Golden Knights (33-0), who are the only remaining unbeaten team in Division II, are now just one win away from tying the NCAA Division II record for consecutive victories in a single season. They won their first-ever PSAC championship in just their second year in the conference and will enter the NCAA Tournament as the No. 1-ranked team in the country.
Selections for the NCAA Tournament will be announced on Sunday night, March 7 at 9:00 p.m. on NCAA.org.