Vulcans starters log a lot of minutes
California University guard Kaitlynn Fratz played every minute of the Vulcans' last three victories. Cal plays Virginia State tonight at Hamer Hall.
Cal’s Miki Glenn played more minutes than any player in the PSAC.
CALIFORNIA – Watch a college basketball game, whether it be at the Division I, II or III level, and the substitutions come as fast as the baskets. It seems as if coaches are required to make multiple substitutions every time an official blows a whistle. You’d think coaches get paid by the substitution.
One exception to this is the California University women’s team. Though the Vulcans have PSAC West Division Freshmen of the Year Seairra Barrett as a key reserve, and head coach Jess Strom likes using her bench as much as any other coach, it’s not unusual for Cal to have multiple starters play all 40 minutes in a game.
In the recent PSAC tournament, when Cal won three games in six days, Vulcans guards Miki Glenn and Kaitlynn Fratz each played 40 minutes in every game. And forward Lana Doran played 40 minutes in a semifinal victory over Bloomsburg.
Glenn played more minutes than any player in the PSAC, and four Cal starters average at least 30 minutes of playing time per game.
So when Cal (26-4) hosts the NCAA Division II Atlantic Regional beginning today, will the Vulcans have enough left in the tank to win three more games in four days?
“We’re not allowed to get tired,” joked Glenn, a sophomore point guard.
Teams that rarely substitute typically do so because of a lack of depth and prefer to play a slow-paced style that prevents players from getting tired early in a game. Cal, however, is unique in that it substitutes infrequently yet prefers a fast-paced style. The Vulcans like pressure defense and fast-breaks.
And like the Energizer Bunny, Cal starters just keep going and going without showing signs of fatigue.
“I don’t think our players get tired,” Strom said. “They practice really hard, so the games are the easier part for them.”
Strom knew before the season several of her players would have to log many minutes each night. The Vulcans do not have a true point guard behind Glenn and many of the reserves are in their first year playing at the Division II level.
“I told Miki that unless she’s making me really mad, then she’s not going to sit,” Strom. “These players believe they are the best-conditioned team and they work harder than any other team. Now, whether if that’s true or not … at least they believe that.”
And Cal is playing like it. The Vulcans won 12 of their last 13 games, are averaging 73 points per game and the aggressive defense is forcing 23 turnovers per contest.
“It’s a mentality,” said Fratz, who scored 32 points and played 40 minutes in the PSAC semifinal. “If you’re tired, then you don’t allow how you feel to take over.
“This is playoff time. You have to get the job done. You have no other choice. You make the plays to survive and advance. If you don’t, then you go home.”
Cal, which is the top seed in the regional, will try to advance tonight (7:30) when it plays Virginia State (20-9), the CIAA tournament champion. The Trojans are led by two seniors, guard Dashae Jones (15.5 ppg) and forward Tiffanie Adair (14.3 points, 8.9 rebounds per game). Adair was MVP of the CIAA tournament.
Virginia State is the only team in the eight-team regional that Cal has not played and defeated this season.
“I think that helps in preparation,” Strom said. “This is somebody different. We’re going to be playing a very good team that is very athletic. They have a good post player (Adair) who can score. Just because this is a No. 1 seed against a No. 8, it’s not an automatic win. This is going to be a tough game.”
It will be the last of four games today. Play begins at noon with Bloomsburg (24-4) facing Gannon (21-7). Indiana (24-4) and Shepherd (21-9) follow at 2:30 p.m. and West Liberty (23-8) plays West Chester (24-5) at 5 p.m. The regional is being held at Hamer Hall instead of the Convocation Center because of a cheerleading competition that was booked for the Vulcans’ home building.
The regional semifinals are Saturday at 5 and 7:30 p.m., and the championship game is Monday at 7 p.m. The winner advances to the Elite Eight March 24-27 in Sioux Falls, S.D.