Dec 1, 2015 4 min read

CALIFORNIA – The California University women’s basketball team was playing shorthanded Tuesday night against PSAC West Division rival Clarion.

Not only were the Vulcans without senior forwards Lana Doran and Brittany Nelson, who suffered season-ending knee injuries in preseason practice, they also were sans starter Paige Wright, another senior forward, who was sidelined with concussion-like symptoms.

Sophomore Shatara Parsons filled in for Wright and made her first career start.

Judging by the results, it might be hard to take Parsons out of the lineup.

Parsons had a double-double with a career-high 17 points – 15 in the first half – and 12 rebounds to spark No. 12-ranked California to a 67-48 thumping of the Golden Eagles at the Convocation Center.

It was a breakout game for Parsons, who played only a bit part last season on Cal’s NCAA Division II national championship team. She played in 22 of 36 games and averaged only 2.1 points per game. Parsons had a 16-point performance against Mansfield last December, but she basically used her freshman season to watch and learn, adjusting to the speed of the college game and improving her defense.

“My defense was not what we call ‘Cal defense,'” Parsons said. “I had to build the trust of the coaches that I would give them what was expected from me.

“After the season, I told the coaches that when I come back I’m not going to sit on your bench. I refuse to sit on your bench. I was going to work to improve my game. When I got back here this year, I was confident. I told myself that I could score, rebound, play defense and run the floor. So, why not do it?”

Parsons did just about everything against Clarion (2-2, 2-5). She scored 11 points in the first quarter and had eight rebounds and three steals by halftime as Cal (4-0, 5-1) raced to a 37-22 lead. She also got to the free-throw line 12 times and was part of Cal’s in-your-face defense that held Clarion to 14 points over the second and third quarters. The Golden Eagles committed 23 turnovers.

“Our trademark is defense,” Parsons said.

Parsons was informed she would be in the starting lineup following practice Monday. Her transition to the starting role was made easier because of Cal forward Precious Martin. It was like old times for the two forwards. Parsons and Martin were teammates at Central Dauphin High School in Harrisburg for three seasons.

Whether Parsons remains a starter after Wright is cleared to return by the medical staff is a decision Cal head coach Jess Strom will make. She hinted that Parsons might return to the bench. Strom likes Parsons in the role of a “sixth starter.”

“She’s our spark off the bench,” Strom said. “I like her there. She brings length and energy. She’s proven that she’s ready.”

Seairra Barrett teamed with Parsons in the low post and also had a big game, scoring 16 points and grabbing 15 rebounds. Point guard Miki Glenn had 12 points and six assists.

Jen Straw and Amesha Harden-Pulliam each scored 10 points for Clarion.

Men’s result

BJ Andrews and Rob Agurs each scored 14 points and Clarion pulled away over the final 25 minutes to defeat California, 71-58, in the men’s game.

It was Clarion’s first win at Cal in six years. The Golden Eagles (4-0, 6-2) have won six in a row. Cal is 1-3, 2-5.

Clarion, which has four senior transfers, used its full-court pressure defense to force 18 Cal turnovers. The defense sparked a pivotal 10-0 run to close the first half as the Golden Eagles forged a 39-22 lead. The advantage grew to as many as 31 points during the second half before Cal chipped away at the deficit and played a strong final 10 minutes.

Cal shot only 39 percent from the field in the first half and made just three of 16 three-point attempts in the game.

“We’re not as athletic as we have been,” Cal head coach Bill Brown said. “Of course, if we make some shots that changes things, but we didn’t make shots. We needed to limit Clarion to one shot, get back on defense and handle the ball against the press.”

Luke Andjusic and Nate Bellhy, the latter a graduate transfer from Washington & Jefferson, each scored 11 points to pace Cal. Bellhy came off the bench to make four of six shots and grab five rebounds.

Tony Richardson scored 10 points for Cal, which held Clarion scoreless for almost four minutes late in the game.