PSAC Semifinals – Edinboro, Pa.
Saturday, March 8, 2014 - 1 p.m.
No. 14 Bloomsburg (24-3, 14-2 PSAC East)
vs. No. 3 Gannon (26-2, 14-2 PSAC West)
Pre-Game Information/Live Gameday Outlets
ERIE, Pa. - For the second straight season, the No. 3 Gannon Lady Knights will appear in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Final Four following a 62-57 quarterfinal win over California (Pa.) at the Hammermill Center on March 4. In a rematch of last season's conference title game, the Western Division second-seed Lady Knights will face Eastern Division top-seed and 14th nationally-ranked Bloomsburg in the semifinals on Saturday, March 8, at the McComb Fieldhouse on the campus of Edinboro University. The tip is set for 1 p.m.
TICKETS
Tickets will be available at the door both days. However, only two-day passes that grant admission to all three weekend games will be available Saturday. Cost is $14 for adults, $5 for non-PSAC students and free for PSAC students with a valid school ID. Ticket prices to attend Sunday's championship games only will be on sale Sunday only at $8 for adults, $3 for non-PSAC students and free for PSAC students with a valid school ID.
GAMEDAY COVERAGE
Fans unable to make the trip can follow the Golden Knights online through gameday statistics, audio and video at the links above. The Pennsylvania Cable Network (PCN) will televise Sunday's championship game live. PCN is available through Time Warner Cable on Channel 22 in the City of Erie and Erie County. Sunday's coverage can also be viewed online and on-the-go by subscribing to PCN Select at the link above for a $7.99 fee.
SCOUTING THE NO. 14 BLOOMSBURG HUSKIES
- The No. 14 Bloomsburg Huskies secured the Eastern Division top-seed in the PSAC Tournament after posting a 14-2 divisional record. Winners of 17 consecutive games, the Huskies are ranked fourth in the latest NCAA Atlantic regional rankings and hold an overall record of 24-3.
- Following a first-round bye to open the PSAC Tournament, reigning champion Bloomsburg captured a 76-51 home-quarterfinal win over fifth-seed East Stroudsburg on March 4. Shooting 56.9 percent in the contest, the host Huskies never trailed with four players reaching double figures. Bloomsburg was led by Jocelyn Ford with 19 points.
- The last meeting between the Lady Knights and Huskies came down to the final three seconds. With the score tied at 63, Gannon senior
Jen Papich pulled inside with a quick layup off an in-bound pass, as the then-No. 2 Lady Knights defeated reigning PSAC champion Bloomsburg, 65-63, at the Nelson Field House on Dec. 21, in conference-crossover action.
- The Huskies' offensive attack is led by Catherine Noack,Adreana Sadowski and Ford. Noack is averaging 16.1 points followed by Sadowski (13.4) and Ford (11.9).
- Among the PSAC, the Huskies rank third in both scoring offense (76.7) and scoring defense (61.9). The Huskies lead the conference in shooting percentage (46.2) and are fourth in defending the shot from the field (38.5).
- Head coach Bill Cleary is in his sixth season at Bloomsburg. Cleary holds a 123-47 record with the Huskies, capturing four straight PSAC Eastern Division titles.
- On March 5, Noack was named the PSAC Eastern Division Athlete of the Year and Clearly was selected as the division's Coach of Year. Noack earned All-PSAC First Team honors, while Ford appeared as a second-team selection.
SERIES HISTORY
- The two squads met for the first time in program history on Jan. 10, 2009, when first-year PSAC member Gannon defeated host Bloomsburg by the score of 79-52.
- The Lady Knights hold a 5-1 all-time record against the Huskies. Two of the last three games have been decided by less than four points.
- Gannon is 5-0 in the regular season against the Huskies, who captured their first win over the Lady Knights in last season's PSAC title game by the score of 74-57 on March 9.
HOW WE GOT HERE
On Feb. 5, the Lady Knights clinched their fifth berth in six seasons to the PSAC Tournament with a 71-39 win over Slippery Rock. The Lady Knights clinched a first-round bye and quarterfinal home game in the PSAC Tournament with a 73-64 victory over Indiana (Pa.) on Feb. 15.
CONFERENCE RECOGNITION
Three Lady Knights landed on the 2014 All-PSAC Western Division postseason teams released March 5. Junior
Nettie Blake (Jersey City, N.J./Marist) and senior
Jen Papich (Pittsburgh, Pa./Fox Chapel) were named to the first team while senior
Kelley Sundberg (Mansfield, Conn./E.O. Smith) earned second-team honors. Blake earned her second consecutive All-PSAC accolade after being named to the second team last season. Papich secured her third consecutive All-PSAC Western Division first-team selection. Papich has been stellar throughout her collegiate career. In addition to being named PSAC Western Division Athlete of the Year in 2012-13, Papich landed spots on the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) and Division II Bulletin All-America honorable-mention teams last season. She also earned Daktronics All-Atlantic Region second-team accolades. Sundberg was named to the All-PSAC Western Division second team for the third consecutive season.
ATLANTIC REGIONAL RANKINGS
The Gannon Lady Knights remained No. 1 for the second consecutive week in the latest NCAA Division II Atlantic regional rankings released March 5. The rankings only considered games played through Sunday, March 2. Gannon remained in the top spot with a 25-2 record against NCAA Division II teams and 23-2 mark within the region. The NCAA regional rankings determine the postseason participants for the NCAA Division II Tournament. Eight teams will play in the Atlantic Regional. Shaw has already won the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) Tournament to secure its automatic bid. The remainder of the field will be filled with the PSAC Tournament champion and six at-large bids. The Mountain East Conference (MEC) doesn't hold an automatic bid during its first year. The NCAA Division II Selection Show is scheduled for Sunday, March 9 at 10 p.m. It can be viewed live at
http://bit.ly/1ijd1Rj.
LAST TIME OUT
The No. 3 Gannon women's basketball team opened the PSAC Tournament with a 62-57 quarterfinal victory over West Division third-seed California (Pa.) on March 4 at the Hammermill Center. In a rematch of last season's quarterfinal matchup, the game featured 11 tied scores and 12 lead changes until the Lady Knights scored five straight from the foul line with 1:07 remaining to seal the win. Led by Blake with 15 points, three Lady Knights recorded double figures in the win. Junior
Mollie Sebald (Broadview Heights, Ohio/Holy Name) registered 13 points followed Papich with 11 points. Papich also added a team-high nine rebounds to lead the Lady Knights for the eighth time this season, while tying a career-game five assists. The Lady Knights helped seal the win with their strong showing at the foul line in the second half at a clip of 87.5 percent (14-16). The Lady Knights sealed the win with strong shooting at the foul line, hitting five of their final six for the 62-57 win. In total, 10 of the Lady Knights' final 12 points came at the charity stripe. Sundberg hit four straight to close out the Lady Knights' victory.
LOOKING AHEAD
A win and the season continues. A loss and the run is over. With a 62-57 win over California (Pa.) in the PSAC Quarterfinals on March 4, the Lady Knights face Bloomsburg at the McComb Fieldhouse at Edinboro University in the PSAC Semifinals. If the Lady Knights defeat the East Division top-seed Huskies, they will face either West Division first-seed and tournament host Edinboro or West Chester on Sunday.
