ERIE, Pa. - The sixth-ranked Gannon women's basketball team concludes a tough two-game Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Western Division road swing Saturday, February 9 at California (Pa.). Please note the contest has a special tip-off time of 3 p.m. and can be heard live locally on Jet Radio 1400.
Gannon (21-2, 15-1 PSAC) continues hold a two-game lead over two-time defending PSAC champion Edinboro in the PSAC Western Division with six regular-season games remaining. The Lady Knights has already clinched at least a home game during the PSAC first round. The squad can secure a first-round bye and a PSAC quarterfinal home game with a victory at California (Pa.) combined with an Indiana (Pa.) loss at Clarion Saturday night.
Head coach
Cleve Wright's club is ranked sixth in the latest
USA Today Sports Division II Coaches' Poll. The Lady Knights have been ranked among the nation's top 25 in 21 consecutive polls dating back to last season. The squad is 3-1 against top-25 teams and has defeated two programs listed among others receiving votes at the time of competition.
A couple Lady Knights are starting to near major milestones.
Jen Papich is close to becoming the 24th women's basketball student-athlete in school history to score 1,000 career points. The junior forward enters Saturday's contest with 946 points. Meanwhile,
Brittany Batts is closing in on the school's all-time single-season three-point record. The sophomore guard has converted 76 three-pointers this season, needing 14 to break Jacki Windon's record of 89 set during the 2000-01 campaign.
California (Pa.) (14-6, 10-6) had a four-game win streak snapped Wednesday night with a 60-41 loss at Edinboro. The Vulcans actually have a better record on the road where they are 7-2 compared to a 7-4 home record. The squad ranks 13th among all NCAA Division II programs in turnover margin (6.21) and 16th in steals per game (12.6).
Gannon has won the last two games against California (Pa.) to knot the all-time series at 13. The latest encounter resulted in a 65-53 Lady Knight victory on January 19 at the Hammermill Center. The series has heavily favored the home team. Gannon is 10-2 at the Hammmermill Center, but only 3-11 against Cal on the road.
