Cal tripped up by Kutztown in PSAC semifinals, awaits NCAA berth
KUTZTOWN – The California University women’s basketball team was unable to hold on to protect a halftime lead Saturday and host Kutztown upended the Vulcans, 67-62, in the semifinals of the PSAC tournament.
Kutztown will play Indiana in the champion game this afternoon. California (24-4) will be waiting for an NCAA Division II tournament berth as an at-large team. Pairings will be revealed 10 p.m. tonight. The PSAC champion automatically advances to the national tournament.
California led 14-11 after the first quarter and 30-29 at halftime. The Vulcans took their first lead of the game on a basket by Seairra Barrett at the buzzer. The Golden Bears, however, pushed into the lead after the third quarter, 46-43.
Kutztown (18-11) then secured a spot in the tournament championship with a 21-19 edge in the fourth quarter.
The Crimson Hawks defeated Bloomsburg, 85-57, in the other semifinal.
Barrett again led the Cal attack, finishing with a game-high 31 points and moved into fifth place on the Vulcans’ all-time scoring list.
Rylee Derr led Kutztown with 32 points. Taylor Thames finished with 12 points and Brianna Tarabocchia added 11.