Lanise Saunders
Joe Mattis
Gannon can forced a three-way tie in the loss column for first place in the PSAC Western Division with a victory Wednesday night against California (Pa.) at the Hammermill Center.

Women's Basketball Dan Teliski, Assistant Director of Athletics for Media Relations

Gannon Women's Basketball Team Hosts Defending NCAA Champion Cal Wednesday Night in PSAC Showdown (Video/Game Notes)



GAME DAY CENTRAL
  • When: Wednesday, February 17, 2016
  • Where: Erie, Pa.
  • Arena: Hammermill Center (2,800)
  • Tip-off: 5:30 p.m.
  • Live Radio: 90.5 WERG
  • Live Audio via 90.5 WERG Stream: Click Here
  • Live Webcast (FREE): Click Here
  • Live Stats: Click Here

GAME INFORMATION
  • General Admission Ticket Prices: $5 adults / $3 Non-Gannon students / $3 Senior Citizens
  • All Gannon students, staff and faculty are admitted free of charge by showing their school ID
  • Ticket Windows: Open at 4:30 p.m. The contest will be part of a PSAC doubleheader that concludes with the men's teams at 7:30 p.m. 
  • Parking: Free on-street parking | Paid parking garage located on Peach Street between 7th and 8th streets
  • Directions: To Hammermill Center I GPS Address: 620 Peach Street, Erie, Pa. 16501

GAME COVERAGE
PENNSYLVANIA STATE ATHLETIC CONFERENCE INFORMATION
ALL-TIME SERIES BREAKDOWN
  • All-Time Series: Gannon leads 20-16
  • First Meeting: January 15, 1981 - California (Pa.) 74, Gannon 66
  • Last Meeting: January 13, 2016 - at California (Pa.) 64, Gannon 58
  • Series Notes: California (Pa.) has won its last two meetings against Gannon, but still trails the all-time series 20-16. The Lady Knights swept the regular-season series against Cal last year, but the Vulcans responded by defeating Gannon in the PSAC Quarterfinals. Cal eventually won the PSAC championship and NCAA Division II national title. Gannon has been successful against Cal at home, owning a 15-2 edge in the series at the Hammermill Center. The Lady Knights have won seven consecutive games against the Vulcans at home. Cal's last victory at the 'Mill was an 86-61 verdict on January 22, 2011.

OTHER LINKS
LAST TIME OUT
  • Three and one-half weeks after Seton Hill out-scored Gannon 22-5 during the fourth quarter at the Hammermill Center, the Lady Knights turned the tables and out-scored the Griffins 19-4 during the final 10 minutes en route to a 62-44 victory last Wednesday at the McKenna Center. As a result, Gannon clinched at least a PSAC Tournament First Round home game and remained in contention for the Western Division's top seed.

GANNON STORYLINES
  • Gannon is coming off three consecutive victories against Clarion (77-57), Pitt-Johnstown (84-54) and Seton Hill (62-44).
  • The Lady Knights have been idle since last Wednesday's win at Seton Hill after receiving their second PSAC bye date last weekend.
  • Gannon has actually played better on the road according to its record, producing a 10-3 road mark and 6-4 home record.
  • Thies has recorded six consecutive double-doubles, giving her 14 double-dips this season. She leads the PSAC in double-doubles and sits five behind the national leader.
  • Senior Morgan Neighbors (Westerville, Ohio/Westerville South) sits in eighth place all-time at Gannon with 160 three-point field goals, needing 23 to surpass Kelly Irwin (2001-04) and move into seventh place. She ranks 28th in scoring with 932 points and can move into 27th place past Mollie Sebald (2012-15) with 82 points. 
  • Thies ranks ninth all-time at Gannon with 632 rebounds, needing 69 to move past Jen Papich (2011-14) and into eighth place. She is 37th in scoring with 762 points and can move past Tiffany Crocker (2007-10) and into 36th place with 31 points.
  • Gannon clinched at least a home game in the PSAC Tournament first round with last Wednesday's 62-44 victory at Seton Hill.
  • With a victory, Gannon can move into a three-way tie in the loss column with California (Pa.) and Indiana (Pa.) for first place in the PSAC Western Division with one week left in the regular season.
  • If California (Pa.) wins, the Lady Knights would be eliminated from the possibility of obtaining the No. 1 seed. This year's postseason seeds are extremely important as the top remaining seed in the PSAC Western Division after the conference quarterfinals will host the 2016 PSAC Final Four.
  • Neighbors is No. 1 among PSAC players in three-point percentage (43.0) while sophomore McKenna Shives (Struthers, Ohio/Struthers) ranks second in three-point field goals made per game (2.8). Shives has hit 65 triples this season.
  • Thies ranks second among conference players in total rebounds (291) and rebounds per game (12.7).
  • Senior Amanda Berchtold (Erie, Pa./Mercyhurst Prep) ranks third among PSAC players with 5.2 assists per game and ninth all-time at Gannon with 368 career assists. She can move past Pam Bonadio (1980-81) and into eighth place with 10 assists.
  • Junior Brianna Brennan (Woodhaven, Mich./Woodhaven) is 13th all-time at Gannon with 70 career blocks. She can move into 11th place past Lori Parson (1981-84) and Helen Marz (1981) with eight more blocks.
  • Gannon is 11-1 when scoring at least 70 points and 7-2 on Wednesdays this season.
  • The Lady Knights are seventh in the latest D2SIDA Atlantic Region Media Poll. Gannon has been previously ranked as high as third. The initial NCAA Division II regional rankings which determine postseason bids are scheduled to be released February 17.

CALIFORNIA (Pa.) STORYLINES
  • California (Pa.) rides a seven-game win streak into Wednesday's contest. The squad hasn't tasted defeat since a 73-54 setback at Edinboro on January 20.
  • The Vulcans have been nearly unbeatable at home, posting an 11-1 record at the Convocation Center. The squad is 6-4 on the road and 1-0 on a neutral floor.
  • Cal's smallest scoring margin during its last six games has been 13 points. The Vulcans own a 24.8 scoring margin during that stretch.
  • Junior Miki Glenn leads the PSAC in scoring (19.4), steals per game (3.09), free throws made (140), free throws attempted (156) and minutes played per game (39:32).
  • California (Pa.) won the PSAC Tournament last season with an 86-70 victory against West Chester in a game hosted by Bloomsburg. The Vulcans then went on to win the NCAA Division II national championship.
  • The Cal starters account for 85 percent of the team's scoring. The top five average 61.5 points per game while the bench adds 11 points per game.
  • California (Pa.) ranks seventh among all NCAA Division II programs in turnover margin (7.17) and eighth in fewest turnovers per game (12.2).

UP NEXT
  • Gannon concludes the road portion of the 2015-16 regular season Saturday, February 20 at Slippery Rock.
  • Game time is scheduled for 5 p.m.
  • The contest can be heard live on Jet Radio 1400 and via the 90.5 WERG online stream at www.wergfm.com.
  • Slippery Rock snapped a 10-game losing streak in the all-time series with a 72-65 overtime victory at the Hammermill Center on January 23.
  • The Rock will be attempting to complete its first-ever season sweep of the Lady Knights.
  • Gannon holds a 32-10 lead in the all-time series, winning 10 of the last 11 match-ups and 25 of the last 26.
  • The Lady Knights have won four consecutive games at the Morrow Field House where they are 11-6 all-time.
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Players Mentioned

Mollie Sebald

#15 Mollie Sebald

G
5' 11"
Senior
Mechanical Eng.
Amanda Berchtold

#5 Amanda Berchtold

G
5' 4"
Senior
Sports Mgt. & Marketing
Brianna Brennan

#10 Brianna Brennan

F
6' 1"
Junior
Early Childhood Education
Morgan Neighbors

#12 Morgan Neighbors

G
5' 9"
Senior
Business Admin.
McKenna Shives

#3 McKenna Shives

G
5' 5"
Sophomore
Undeclared
Jennie Thies

#14 Jennie Thies

F/C
6' 1"
Senior
Biology

Players Mentioned

Mollie Sebald

#15 Mollie Sebald

5' 11"
Senior
Mechanical Eng.
G
Amanda Berchtold

#5 Amanda Berchtold

5' 4"
Senior
Sports Mgt. & Marketing
G
Brianna Brennan

#10 Brianna Brennan

6' 1"
Junior
Early Childhood Education
F
Morgan Neighbors

#12 Morgan Neighbors

5' 9"
Senior
Business Admin.
G
McKenna Shives

#3 McKenna Shives

5' 5"
Sophomore
Undeclared
G
Jennie Thies

#14 Jennie Thies

6' 1"
Senior
Biology
F/C