CALIFORNIA, Pa. - NCAA Division II Atlantic Regional Most Valuable Player Brooque Williams posted 28 points and 10 rebounds as the sixth-ranked California (Pa.) Vulcans won their second consecutive women’s basketball regional championship with a 64-40 victory over Gannon Monday night.
The loss lowers the curtain on one of the most successful seasons in school history. The Lady Knights tied the school record for victories (26) in a season and advanced to the Sweet Sixteen for the first time in school history.
California (Pa.) put Gannon behind the eight ball from the start, scoring the first six points and jumping out to a 28-4 lead 11:28 into the game. The Lady Knights missed their first seven shots and finished 2-of-11 during the opening blitz.
Following
Kristina Freeman’s (Yonkers, N.Y./Pelham Memorial) lay-up which cut the deficit to 6-2, Gannon failed to record a field goal attempt for three minutes and 34 seconds. The squad missed two free throws and turned the ball over during the following five possessions.
The Cal lead remained in the 20’s the rest of the half as the Vulcans took a commanding 37-15 lead into the halftime locker room. It was Gannon’s lowest scoring half since producing 15 points in the first half at Ferris State on January 13, 2000.
Gannon played much better in the second half, but could never get closer than 15 points. California (Pa.) closed out the game with a 9-0 run and held the Lady Knights scoreless for the final six minutes and 21 seconds en route to the 64-40 victory.
Kim Vargas (Sterling, Va./Broad Run) was Gannon’s high scorer with nine points off the bench. Freeman recorded eight points and 11 rebounds.
Carrie Nolan (Girard, Pa./Girard) nailed a pair of three-pointers, extending her streak of consecutive games with at least one triple to 32.
Gannon shot 29.6 percent (16-54) from the field, 16.7 percent (4-24) from three-point range, and 50 percent (4-8) from the free throw line.
Williams led all scorers with 28 points while adding 10 rebounds and four steals. Lindsay Johnson chipped in 10 points. Kayla Smith had nine points and 11 rebounds.
California (Pa.) shot 39.1 percent (25-64) from the floor, 40 percent (4-10) from behind the arc, and 58.8 percent (10-17) from the charity stripe.
Gannon concludes its season with a 26-5 record. California (Pa.) moves into the NCAA Division II Elite Eight with a 29-4 mark.
For a complete box score from Monday’s Gannon-California (Pa.) NCAA Division II Women’s Basketball Atlantic Regional Championship Game, please
click here.