Parsons sends Cal to PSAC title game
California University’s bench reacts as the Vulcans defeated East Stroudsburg in the PSAC women’s basketball tournament semifinals at Shippensburg University.
Californiaþ’s Precious Martin, right, drives around East Stroudsburg’s Madison Tamburini during the first half Saturday afternoon.
California’s Morgan Jennings, left, drives around East Stroudsburg’s Ann McKnight during the second quarter Saturday in the PSAC women’s basketball tournament semifinals at Shippensburg University.
SHIPPENSBURG – Shatara Parsons banked in a shot with 3.4 seconds remaining to give two-time defending champion California University a 71-69 victory over East Stroudsburg in the PSAC women’s basketball tournament semifinals Saturday afternoon at Shippensburg’s Heiges Field House.
The win sends California (28-2) to today’s championship game against either Indiana or Shippensburg. The Vulcans are ranked No. 5 in NCAA Division II and first in the Atlantic Region.
Cal played without two starters as senior point guard Miki Glenn and senior forward Lana Doran did not play because of injuries suffered last week. Seairra Barrett picked up some of the offensive burden by scoring a game-high 23 points despite sitting for much of the second half with foul trouble. Barrett made 10 of 13 shots.
Parsons, a junior forward, scored 18 points and had eight rebounds. She made eight of 12 shots, none bigger than her last. With the score tied 69-69 after East Stroudsburg’s Jordan Hertz made a driving layup with 33 seconds to play, Parsons took a pass at the foul line and drove down the left side of the lane and banked in the game-winning eight-footer over a defender.
East Stroudsburg (19-9) could not get off a shot and turned the ball over as time expired.
Abbey Sporio, replacing Glenn at point guard, scored eight points to go with 11 rebounds and seven assists.
Imani Brown scored 22 points to lead four East Stroudsburg players in double figures. The Warriors used a 12-0 run late in the first half to erase a nine-point deficit and the game remained close the rest of the way as the largest lead in the fourth quarter was only two points.