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Jan. 27, 2010
IUP cut an 18-point deficit down to four with 7:35 remaining but could not finish the comeback in a 69-60 loss to nationally-ranked California in a PSAC West game Wednesday at Memorial Field House. The win moved California to 14-4 overall and 4-1 in the PSAC West while the Crimson Hawks suffered their second straight loss after opening division play with a 3-0 mark and dropped to 10-7 and 3-2. The Vulcans entered the game ranked No. 20 in the Women's Basketball Coaches Association poll. Lacey Claar hit three 3-pointers and scored 13 points to lead IUP, and Hillary Shope and Eryn Withers both had 10. Sarah Pastorek paced the Crimson Hawks with nine rebounds, one more than fellow freshman Brianna Johnson. IUP made 16 of 17 from the free throw line to set a school record for single game accuracy at 94.1 percent. Kierstin Filla dished out three assists to raise her career total to 390 and take sole possession of second place in school history. The only IUP player with more assists is Patti Connaghan, who had 499 from 1984-88. Four Vulcans scored in double figures led by Amy Johns with 19 and Brooque Williams with 18. Kayla Smith had a double-double with 14 points and 13 rebounds, and Crystal Andrews finished with 11 points. California held a 41-33 advantage on the boards and forced 23 IUP turnovers. It appeared that the Vulcans would run away with the game after going on a 9-2 run to end the first half and scoring the first four points of the second half to take a 42-24 lead. California still led 49-34 with 13:46 remaining after a 3-point play by Smith before the Crimson Hawks began their comeback. Claar hit a 3-pointer and then made a steal and fed Julie Lozon for another long range bomb that cut the California lead to 49-42. A steal by Lozon led to a bucket by Shope, and the Crimson Hawks were within five with 8:58 remaining. Andrews stopped the run momentarily with a jumper, but Claar hit a 3-pointer on the next IUP possession to get the Crimson Hawks the closest they would be at 51-47 at the 7:35 mark. Two buckets and a free throw by Johns over the next 2:55 pushed the California margin back up to 56-48 with 4:40 left. Pastorek grabbed an offensive rebound and hit a short jumper, and Shope had a layup to twice bring IUP within five in the final 1:29 but each time the Vulcans were able to answer on the other end to keep the Crimson Hawks at bay. California converted six of eight free throws in the final 41 seconds to seal the win. California has won five of the last seven regular season games over the past four years. During that span, however, IUP has defeated the Vulcans in each of the past three PSAC championship games. Wednesday's win gave California a slim 32-31 lead in the all-time series. IUP is back on the road Saturday for a contest at Slippery Rock and then returns home to face Edinboro a week from tonight at 5:30. |
