California Wins Second Straight PSAC Women's Basketball Championship

CALIFORNIA, Pa. - For the second straight season, the Vulcans of California University are the PSAC Women’s Basketball Champions. The defending conference and national champions defeated IUP on Sunday afternoon, 62-52.

Miki Glenn was named the tournament’s MVP for the second straight season, scoring 30 points in the championship game and averaging 24.3 points per game in the tournament. The conference’s leading scorer in the regular season also averaged 5.7 assists per game in the tournament.

Cal was able to dominate the boards against IUP on Sunday, outrebounding the Crimson Hawks 46-36. The Vulcans also had 20 second chance points, while IUP had just seven.

Shatara Parsons led Cal U with an astounding eight offensive rebounds, while Seairra Barrett had four offensive rebounds. Parsons and Barrett tied for the team lead with 12 rebounds apiece.

On the defensive end, California was able to hold All-PSAC West First Team performer Leslie Stapleton to just a single point. Zhané Brooks led IUP with 11 rebounds and, along with Megan Smith, had a team-best 17 points.

The final brackets for next weekend’s NCAA Tournament will be released tonight at 10 p.m. on the selection show. You can watch the selection show here.

PSAC SEMIFINALS

IUP DEFEATS WEST CHESTER, 77-64
Box Score
IUP Full Story

CALIFORNIA, Pa. - Behind the strong performance of First Team All-PSAC performer Leslie Stapleton, the IUP Crimson Hawks advanced the PSAC Women’s Basketball Championship game, defeating the top-seeded West Chester Golden Rams on Saturday afternoon, 77-64.

Stapleton finished with 33 points on 9-for-17 shooting. Stapleton had 10 points in the first half, but scored 23 points on 6-of-9 shooting in the third quarter on her way to the 33 points. She also made made seven of her eight free throws in the second half.

Brittany Sicinski led the way for the Golden Rams, scoring 24 points.

IUP will play in the championship game on Sunday afternoon, while West Chester will wait for its NCAA fate to be determined. The NCAA Division II Women’s Basketball Selection Show will air on Sunday at 10 p.m.

West Chester was fourth in the Atlantic Regional Rankings coming into the weekend, while IUP was eighth.

CALIFORNIA DEFEATS SHIPPENSBURG, 78-62
Box Score
California Full Story

CALIFORNIA, Pa. - The Vulcans will look to defend their PSAC Women’s Basketball Championship on Sunday afternoon, earning a spot in the game after a 78-62 win over Shippensburg in the PSAC Semifinals.

PSAC West Athlete of the Year, and last year’s PSAC Tournament Most Outstanding Player, Miki Glenn was exceptional for California, scoring 25 points, recording seven assists, collecting six rebounds, and getting four steals.

Glenn led the league in minutes, points, and steals this season.

After the Raiders jumped out to an 8-4 lead, Cal U went on a 32-8 run, putting Shippensburg 20 points behind (36-16) midway through the second quarter. Shippensburg would not get to within single digits for the remainder of the game.

Seairra Barrett and Shatara Parsons each had 18 points for the Vulcans.

Shippensburg was led by Colleen Young, who scored 18 points, shooting 81.8% from the floor.

California will play in the championship game on Sunday afternoon against IUP, while Shippensburg will wait for its NCAA fate to be determined. The NCAA Division II Women’s Basketball Selection Show will air on Sunday at 10 p.m.

California was third in the Atlantic Regional Rankings coming into the weekend, while Shippensburg was ninth.

PSAC Women's Basketball Final Four Preview

California, Pa. - After the completion of Tuesday’s quarterfinal matchups, only four teams remained, looking for the coveted PSAC crown. California University will serve as the Final Four host.

IUP will face West Chester in the first PSAC Semifinal at Hamer Hall, with tip off set for 1:00 pm. Shippensburg and California will face off in the second PSAC Semifinal with tip set for 3:30 pm.

The PSAC Championship Game is set for Sunday afternoon at 3:00 PM.

Fans will be able to view both semifinal games and the championship game free of charge online. To view the games click here.

Please see below for more information about each team competing for the league title this weekend.

2015-16 Team Rankings
(PSAC Rank) average

	California	IUP	Shippensburg	West Chester
Scoring Offense	(2nd) 73.1	(4th) 71.0	(3rd) 71.8	(1st) 74.4
Scoring Defense	(2nd) 62.3	(5th) 62.8	(6th) 63.1	(10th) 65.0
Scoring Margin	(1st) 10.9	(4th) 8.1	(3rd) 8.7	(2nd) 9.4)
Field Goal %	(7th) 41.7%	(3rd) 42.9%	(2nd) 43.0%	(5th) 42.1%
3-Point %	(18th) 26.5%	(1st) 38.3%	(7th) 31.8%	(12th) 29.9%
Free Throw %	(13th) 69.1%	(12th) 69.4%	(2nd) 73.6%	(11th) 69.5%
Field Goal % Defense	(14th) 41.9%	(9th) 39.7)	(10th) 40.1%	(7th) 39.1%
3-Point % Defense	(10th) 31.2%	(9th) 30.8%	(5th) 30.0%	(11th) 31.7%
Rebounding Margin	(7th) +0.8	(6th) +1.3	(14th) -1.4	(5th) +3.4
Blocked Shots	(7th) 3.48	(4th) 3.93	(17th) 2.22	(5th) 3.78
Steals	(2nd) 10.41	(15ht) 6.74	(7th) 8.30	(1st) 10.63
Turnover Margin	(1st) 7.44	(6th) 1.78	(2nd) 3.52	(4th) 2.93
Turnovers Forced	(1st) 19.7	(6th) 15.0	(2nd) 17.8	(4th) 19.9
Assist-Turnover Ratio	(5th) 1.06	(2nd) 1.16	(3rd) 1.13	(6th) 0.96
Assists	(12th) 13.07	(6th) 15.33	(3rd) 16.11	(2nd) 16.30

California (22-15, 18-4 PSAC)

PSAC Tournament Titles: 2015, 2006, 2004, 2003, 2002

•The defending conference and national champions from California enter this tournament as the regular season PSAC West Champions.
•The Vulcans earned multiple conference laurels for their efforts this season. Miki Glenn was named the PSAC West Athlete of the Year, Seairra Barrett was named PSAC West Defensive Athlete of the Year, and Coach Jess Strom was named PSAC West Coach of the Year for the second straight season.
•California is red hot entering this tournament. The reigning champions have not lost since January 20, a winning streak of 11 games.

2015-16 California versus Shippensburg: Did not meet

Last Five Seasons: Cal has two wins, Shippensburg has two wins

2015-16 Statistical Leaders
Points/Game
Glenn.............................18.9
Barrett...........................14.1
Parsons.........................12.5
3-Pt FG
Wright...............................37
Suckling...........................22
FT Pct (2.5m pg)
Glenn..............................896
Rebounds/Game
Barrett...........................10.1
Parsons............................8.8
Assists
Glenn..............................164
Barrett...............................54
Steals
Glenn.................................91

IUP (20-7, 16-6 PSAC)

PSAC Tournament Titles: 2009, 2008, 2007,1988

• IUP is in its 11th straight conference tournament, which is the second longest streak in the conference (California).
• The Crimson Hawks clinched their ninth 20-win season in program history with Tuesday’s win against Gannon. In his three years at the helm for IUP, Coach Tom McConnell has two 20-win seasons.
• First Team All-PSAC performer Leslie Stapleton is the 23rd player in IUP history to reach 1,000 points. Entering Saturday’s matchup, Stapleton has 1,256 career points. Entering Saturday, she has made 31 straight free throws. She is shooting 94.6% from the line this year.

2015-16 versus West Chester: West Chester defeated IUP 92-78

Last Five Seasons: IUP has three wins, West Chester has two wins (WCU beat IUP in last year’s PSAC Semifinal)

2015-16 Statistical Leaders
Points/Game
Stapleton.....................16.0
Brooks...........................15.0
Smith.............................12.2
3-Pt FG
Wareham.........................65
Stapleton.........................60
FT Pct (2.5m pg)
Stapleton......................946
Rebounds/Game
Brooks..............................7.6
Smith................................6.5
Assists
Wareham......................106
Steals
Wareham.........................33

Shippensburg (21-6, 16-6 PSAC)

PSAC Tournament Titles: 2001, 2000, 1999, 1998, 1997, 1996

•With the win over Millersville on Tuesday, this Shippensburg team has won the most games (21) in a year since the 2000-01 season when the Raiders made it all the way to the NCAA Final Four.
•PSAC East Athlete of the Year Morgan Griffith leads the way for the Raiders, entering the tournament third in the league in scoring (17.1) and rebounds (11.2). She has 16 double-doubles this year.
•This is the first trip to the conference semifinals for Shippensburg since 2003-04. SU has won the PSAC Tournament more times than any other school, claiming six titles in six straight years (1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001).

2015-16 California versus Shippensburg: Did not meet

Last Five Seasons: Cal has two wins, Shippensburg has two wins

2015-16 Statistical Leaders
Points/Game
Griffith...........................17.1
Snyder...........................12.4
Young............................11.6
3-Pt FG
Gold...................................39
Griffith...............................26
FT Pct (2.5m pg)
Gold................................899
Rebounds/Game
Griffith...........................11.4
Knauer.............................6.2
Assists
Gold................................113
Steals
Gold...................................53

West Chester (21-6, 17-5 PSAC)

• This year, West Chester won the PSAC East for the first time since 2009 and outright for the first time since 2004.
• The Golden Rams are led by a pair of PSAC East First Team honorees: Brittany Sicinski and Dallas Ely. The two seniors are not only the leading scorers on this team, but they are the two-highest scorers in West Chester history. Ely is the all-time leader with 1,589 points, while Sicinski is right behind with 1,585 points.
• WCU has won 13 of its last 14 games to end the season. The Golden Rams have made the PSAC Semifinals now in three straight seasons, but have never won the PSAC Tournament

2015-16 versus IUP: West Chester defeated IUP 92-78

Last Five Seasons: IUP has three wins, West Chester has two wins (WCU beat IUP in last year’s PSAC Semifinal)

2015-16 Statistical Leaders
Points/Game
Sicinski..........................16.6
Ely...................................13.7
Benovy..........................11.1
3-Pt FG
Ely.......................................48
Clark...................................38
FT Pct (2.5m pg)
Ely....................................844
Rebounds/Game
Kuntz................................8.1
Benovy.............................7.4
Assists
Sicinski...........................124
Ely....................................101
Steals
Sicinski..............................51

PSAC QUARTERFINALS

SHIPPENSBURG DEFEATS MILLERSVILLE, 58-56

Box Score
Full Shippensburg Story

Shippensburg, Pa. – The Shippensburg University women's basketball team survived a late charge from archrival Millersville on Tuesday night to emerge victorious in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Quarterfinal contest over the Marauders, 58-56, from Heiges Field House.

Shippensburg (21-6) advances to the PSAC Semifinals for the first time since the 2003-04 season and will face defending national champion California (Pa.), the host of the remaining tournament games, at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday.

WEST CHESTER DEFEATS EAST STROUDSBURG, 70-65

Box Score
Full West Chester Story

West Chester, Pa. – After being limited to eight points in the first half, senior guard Brittany Sicinski recorded 17 in the second half for a team-high 25 points to lead No. 1 seeded West Chester passed No. 4 East Stroudsburg 70-65 in the second round of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) tournament inside Hollinger Field House Wednesday night.

CALIFORNIA DEFEATS EDINBORO, 75-67

Box Score
Full California Story

California, Pa. – Behind a 15-2 run in the second half, the California University of Pennsylvania women's basketball team rallied for a 75-67 victory in the quarterfinals of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Tournament at Hamer Hall on Tuesday night.

With the win, the Vulcans improve to 22-5 overall and advance to face Shippensburg, the second-seed in the PSAC East, on Saturday, March 5. Cal U, which extended its winning streak to 11 games, also secured hosting rights for the semifinals and championship of the league tournament. Meanwhile, the Fighting Scots finish the year with a 20-10 record.

IUP DEFEATS GANNON, 75-70

Box Score
Full IUP Story

Indiana, Pa. - Behind a monster double-double by senior Zhané Brooks, IUP advances to the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference semifinals after defeating Gannon, 75-70, Tuesday night.

The Crimson Hawks, who clinched their second-consecutive 20-win season and second-straight appearance in the PSAC tournament semifinals, play West Chester Saturday at California (Pa.). IUP is now 20-7 on the season.

Brooks finished the game with a game-high 25 points and added 10 rebounds for her 10th double-double of the season. For her career, she now has 13 double-doubles.

PSAC OPENING ROUND

EDINBORO DEFEATS MERCYHURST, 61-42
Box Score
Edinboro Story
Mercyhurst Story

Edinboro, Pa. - Edinboro used a quick start to facilitate an opening round win over Mercyhurst, winning 61-42.

The Fighting Scots shot 60% from the floor and 58.3% from deep in the first half, led by Lauren Hippo, who hit four of her five attempts from beyond the arc.

Hippo finished with 14 points, while Katie Fischer led the team with 18 points.

EU led 25-9 after the first and 37-17 at halftime. The Fighting Scots had 16 points off of turnovers, while the Lakers had just two.

Mercyhurst never got closer than 17 points in the second half, and Edinboro advanced to Tuesday’s PSAC Quarterfinal matchup with the top-seeded California Vulcans.

Cal and Boro split the season series in 2016.

MILLERSVILLE DEFEATS LOCK HAVEN, 71-52
Box Score
Millersville Story
Lock Haven Story

Millersville, Pa. - The Millersville Marauders led for 32 minutes of their opening round matchup with Lock Haven and convincingly advanced to the PSAC Quarterfinals with a 71-52 win.

Millersville had 12 steals in the game and scored 17 fast break points, the Bald Eagles did not score a single fast break point in the contest.

MU, the third seed, led by as much as 24 and did not trail past the five minute mark in the first quarter.

Aunjel Van Brakle led the Marauders with 21 points.

Millersville will travel to Shippensburg on Tuesday for the PSAC Quarterfinals, facing the Raiders, the second seed in the tournament.

Shippensburg and Millersville split the regular season series.

EAST STROUDSBURG DEFEATS BLOOMSBURG, 79-69 (OT)
Box Score
East Stroudsburg Story
Bloomsburg Story

East Stroudsburg, Pa. - In dramatic fashion, the East Stroudsburg pulled out an opening round victory over Bloomsburg, winning 79-69 in overtime.

ESU led by 10 after three quarters, but the Huskies came storming back to force the extra frame.

The Warriors were led by Allison Howard, who scored 20 points, and Imani Brown, who led the team with 22 points off the bench.

After a fourth quarter where they gave up a 10-point lead, the Warriors responded by outscoring BU by 10 points in overtime, 12-2.

With the win, ESU heads to top-seeded West Chester on Tuesday. WCU took both games in the regular season, but the final matchup of the year went into overtime.

GANNON DEFEATS SETON HILL, 64-58
Box Score
Gannon Story
Seton Hill Story

Erie, Pa. - Led by Brianna Brennan’s double-double, Gannon defeated Seton Hill, 64-58, to advance to the PSAC Women’s Basketball Tournament Quarterfinals.

Brennan finished with 19 points and 10 rebounds, leading GU in both categories.

The Lady Knights trailed by four points after one quarter, but had a dominant second quarter, outscoring the Griffins 21-5 en route the the win.

Morgan Neighbors was also in double digits for Gannon, scoring 10 points.

Gannon will make the trip to IUP on Tuesday, facing off with the Crimson Hawks. The two teams split the season series, each winning at home.

CHAMPIONSHIP PREVIEW

Lock Haven, Pa. - The 2015-16 PSAC women’s basketball regular season came to a close on Wednesday night, with California and West Chester claiming divisional titles and earning top seeds in the PSAC Tournament.

The Vulcans and the Golden Rams were each picked as the preseason favorites in their respective divisions.

Cal won the PSAC West one year after winning the conference crown and the national championship, earning victories in 18 of its 22 conference games this season. Last year’s PSAC Championship was the first for Cal since 2006.

Miki Glenn returns for last year’s champions; she was the PSAC Championship’s Most Outstanding Player in 2015. Glenn currently leads the PSAC in scoring.

West Chester went 17-5 in the conference this year and won 12 of its last 13 games entering the postseason.

The Golden Rams are led by the senior duo of Brittany Sicinski and Dallas Ely. Both Sicinski and Ely were selected to the preseason all-conference team and led WCU to its first PSAC East title since 2009.

Shippensburg and IUP each finished second divisionally, earning a bye to the quarterfinals.

The Raiders’ Morgan Griffith is third in the conference in both scoring and rebounding, while IUP has relied on the shooting of Marina Wareham and Leslie Stapleton, who are each in the top five in the PSAC in three-point shooting percentage.

The Marauders from Millersville will host a first round game this weekend, welcoming in Lock Haven. Millersville swept LHU this year, and have the top scoring defense in the league. The Lady Eagles have the PSAC’s best rebounding margin and feature the top rebounder in the conference: Lysa Mealing.

East Stroudsburg will host Bloomsburg in a first round matchup. The Warriors and Huskies split their two games this season. BU's Adreana Sadowski leads the league in field goal percentage (60.8%), but will face a stingy ESU defense that only allows opponents to shoot 37.3% on the year.

Out west, Gannon and Edinboro each finished 14-8 in conference play, but Gannon earned the third seed by virtue of a season sweep over the Fighting Scots. GU will host Seton Hill on Saturday afternoon. The Griffins clinched a spot in the tournament with a win over IUP on the final night of the season. Jenna Kaufman scored 21 points in that game for SHU. Gannon is second in the league in rebounding margin and scoring defense.

Edinboro, meanwhile, will host Mercyhurst in its first round game. Edinboro was victorious in both games against the Lakers this season. Aignee’ Freeland is in the top 10 in the PSAC in scoring, rebounding, and field goal percentage for the Fighting Scots. Mercyhurst’s Natalie Piaggesi leads the Lakers with 14.8 points per game, shooting over 50% on the year.

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