Red-hot Cal poised for postseason
CALIFORNIA – They are the defending conference champions, the defending national champions and the current PSAC West Division champions, but the members of the California University women’s basketball team are taking nothing for granted as they begin postseason play.
That is because the Vulcans have been taking very good notes on what has been happening this season in the PSAC.
“We check the scores every night and it’s just crazy in the West,” California coach Jess Strom said. “It’s so difficult and so even. Upsets happen almost every night.”
A good example of the unpredictable nature of the PSAC is Seton Hill (14-15). Though the Griffins finished in sixth place in the West Division, they had victories over both California (21-5) and West runner-up Indiana (19-7).
Even Edinboro (20-9), which California hosts tonight (7 p.m.) in a quarterfinal game of the PSAC tournament, is a dangerous opponent. The fourth-place team in the West, Edinboro defeated Cal 73-54 in January on the Fighting Scots’ home court. The Vulcans avenged that setback last week in the regular-season finale, 83-52.
Form held in the first round of the conference tournament Saturday as all four higher-seeded and home teams advanced. If the higher seeds can remain unbeaten, especially in the two quarterfinal games matching West Division rivals, that might be classified as an upset.
“The PSAC is a tough conference,” Cal junior point guard Miki Glenn said. “This is going to be a great tournament to watch for basketball fans. It’s playoff time, so it’s the best time for basketball.”
Edinboro rolled over Mercyhurst 61-42 in the opening round. The Fighting Scots shot 60 percent from the floor in the first half and made seven of 12 three-pointers. Mercyhurst never got closer than 17 points in the second half.
California had a bye into the quarterfinals.
The semifinals and finals will be played Saturday afternoon and Sunday at the highest remaining seed from the West Division. That means Cal will have home-court advantage throughout the conference tournament if it can beat Edinboro.
The game tonight has been switched from the Vulcans’ normal home, the Convocation Center, to their former home, Hamer Hall. The Convocation Center was booked for this weekend and is unavailable.
Cal has a 10-game winning streak, with its last loss coming to Edinboro.
Glenn is the leading scorer in the PSAC, averaging 19 points per game. The Bridgeport, W.Va., native is more than just a scorer. She also leads the PSAC in steals (3.4) and is second in both assists (6.0) and free-throw percentage (89.5 percent).
Sophomore forward Seairra Barrett averages a double-double at 14.3 points and 10.2 rebounds. Sophomore forward Shatara Parsons averages 12.5 points and 8.9 rebounds.
Edinboro has four players scoring in double figures led by Aignee’ Freeland, a 6-3 senior center, at 16.6 points. In Edinboro’s win over Cal, Freeland dominated with 26 points.
The Cal-Edinboro winner will play either Millersville (19-8) or Shippensburg (20-6) in the semifinals.
“We need to do what we do,” Strom said. “We know how difficult the conference is. We see all the upsets that have happened. But if we play the way we can, play defense the way we can, then we’re going to win nine out of 10 times.”