Coach Brunelli's Weekly Radio Show

ERIE, Pa. – Following a week off from Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) action, the Gannon women's basketball team returns to the court Thursday evening when the team hosts Western Division leader and 24th nationally-ranked California (Pa.) at the Hammermill Center. The tip is set for 5:30 p.m. The game marks the first for the Vulcans since the loss of senior Shanice Clark, who passed away Jan. 18. The game was originally scheduled for Wednesday, but due to the circumstances it was pushed back. Both squads enter the game with win streaks intact. Winning seven of their last eight games, the Lady Knights have captured four straight. The Vulcans have won three consecutive games during their stretch.
 
THE GAME BASICS
Matchup: No. 24 California (Pa.) (14-2, 11-1 PSAC) at Gannon (11-4, 10-2 PSAC)
Date: Thursday, Jan. 22, 2015
Time: 5:30 p.m.
Location: Hammermill Center | Erie, Pa.
 
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GAME INFORMATION
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GET YOUR TICKETS
Ticket windows will open at 4:30 p.m. Thursday's contests will be part of a PSAC doubleheader that begins with the women's teams at 5:30 p.m. A ticket for the doubleheader costs $5 for adults and $3 for non-Gannon students and senior citizens. All Gannon students are admitted free of charge by showing their school ID at the front door. Tickets can also now be purchased in advance online at www.gusportstickets.com.
 
SCOUTING NO. 24 CALIFORNIA (PA.)
- California (Pa.) enters Thursday's contest, mourning the loss of senior Shanice Clark, who passed away Jan. 18. Redshirting this season, Clark played 24 games last season for the Vulcans after transferring from Santa Fe College (Fla.). 
- For the fifth consecutive week, the Vulcans are ranked in the USA Today Sports Top 25 Coaches Poll. This week, the team holds the 24th spot.
- The Vulcans own a 14-2 overall mark and 11-1 record in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) action to lead the Western Division. Cal has won three straight since falling to then-17th ranked Bloomsburg, 68-56. In the midst of the winning stretch, the Vulcans defeated previously unbeaten Indiana (Pa.), 73-68, in overtime.  
- Cal holds a 3-1 mark against nationally-ranked opponents this season.
- Among PSAC team leaders, the Vulcans rank fourth in both scoring offense (73.7) and scoring defense (60.8). In the PSAC, Cal ranks first in turnover margin (7.94) and steals per game (11.81). The Vulcans also own the conference's third-lowest turnover total (237) and third-best field goal percentage (.426).
- Three Vulcans are averaging double-figure scoring. Tied for second in the league among top scorers, Miki Glenn is averaging 16.4 points per game. She is followed by Emma Mahady (15.9 ppg) and Kaitlynn Fratz (11.9 ppg). Glenn is also posting a league-high 3.3 steals per contest.
 
SERIES HISTORY
- Gannon holds an 18-14 mark in the all-time series against California (Pa.). The Lady Knights have won five straight against the Vulcans, including seven of the last eight meetings. The last four games have been decided by single digits.
- Three of the five previous games have occurred in the postseason with two at the PSAC Tournament and the other at an NCAA Atlantic Regional.
- The Lady Knights have dominated Cal at the Hammermill Center by posting a 14-2 record. GU has won six straight at home against the Vulcans.
 
LOOKING BACK
Gannon managed to hold on for a 67-64 victory over Pitt-Johnstown Jan. 14, at the UPJ Sports Center in PSAC Western Division action. After taking the lead away from the Lady Cats in the second half, the Lady Knights withstood a late rally by the conference's top-offense in the closing minutes. The victory marked the Lady Knights' fourth straight and seventh in eight contests. Senior Nettie Blake (Jersey City, N.J./Marist) led the Lady Knights' offense with 13 points and 10 rebounds to register her sixth double-double of the season and 25th of her career. Fellow senior Candice Hendricks (Randallstown, Md./McDonogh) also added a season-high 12 points.
 
NEXT UP
Following Thursday's game against No. 24 California (Pa.), Gannon will hit the road for three of their next four PSAC Western Division games. The Lady Knights travel to Seton Hill Jan. 24, to round out the first round of meetings with divisional opponents. The Lady Knights circle back around in the divisional schedule with a trip to Slippery Rock Jan. 28. GU closes the month of January at home when they host crosstown-rival Mercyhurst in the annual Pink Zone game Jan. 31.  
 
D2SIDA REGIONAL RANKINGS
For the second straight week, the Lady Knights occupied fourth place in the latest Division II Sports Information Directors of America (D2SIDA) Atlantic Region Media Poll released Jan. 19. In back-to-back weeks, California (Pa.) (14-2) held its spot atop the regional ranking by claiming two of the first-place votes. Indiana (Pa.) (15-1) followed closely behind in second with one first-place nod. IUP's lone loss this season came at the hands of top-ranked California (Pa.). Bloomsburg (13-2), Gannon (11-4), West Chester (13-3) and Livingstone (N.C.) (16-0) rounded out the top five in the media poll. West Chester and Livingstone shared fifth place. West Liberty (W.Va.) (11-5), Edinboro (12-5), Johnson C. Smith (N.C.) (15-2) and Fairmont State (W.Va.) (13-3) completed the top 10.
 
RECORD CHASER
Blake continues to climb her way up the program's all-time list in multiple categories. Among all-time career leaders in program history, Blake ranks fourth in most free throw attempts (498), fifth in most rebounds (881), seventh in most free throws made (314), tied for 10th in most field goals (514), 10th in most points (1,342) and tied for 12th in blocked shots (76). Averaging 7.9 rebounds per game in her career, she ranks fifth on the program's all-time list.
 
FAST BREAK POINTS
- Among the PSAC leaders, Gannon ranks eighth in both scoring offense (68.7) and defense (62.9). On the glass, the Lady Knights own third in rebounding defense (36.3) and sixth in rebounding offense (41.9) for a third-ranked rebounding margin of 5.6.
- The Lady Knights rank second in the PSAC in assist/turnover ratio (1.06), while recording a league-low 215 turnovers this season.
- In the conference, junior Amanda Berchtold (Erie, Pa./Mercyhurst Prep) ranks first in assist/turnover ratio (3.3) and tied for fourth in assists per game (4.3). Berchtold enters the week ranked third in assist/turnover ratio among national leaders.
- Among PSAC rebounding leaders, Blake ranks first in rebounds per game (10.9) and third in total rebounds (163). In the conference, Blake is first in both offensive rebounds (66) and offensive boards per game (4.4). Among national leaders, Blake ranks 11th in offensive rebounds per game and 23rd in rebounds per game entering this week.
- Among the team's 11 final regular-season games, 10 will come against Western Division opponents.
- Dating back to the 2011-12 season, Gannon has won 46 of their last 49 games at the Hammermill Center for a .939 winning percentage. In 41 years at the Hammermill Center, the Lady Knights have posted a record of 363-147 for a win-percentage of .712.
- For the third straight season, the Lady Knights have opened a campaign with seven consecutive home victories.