WBB Preview Cal 1040x580 010418

Women's Basketball Josh Hill, Assistant Director of Athletics Media Relations

PREVIEW: Lady Knights Await #12 California (PA) for First Home Game of 2019 (Game Notes)

Gannon faces its second straight ranked opponent to open PSAC West divisional play on Saturday

 WOMEN'S BASKETBALL GAMEDAY CENTRAL
 Game 14: Gannon (6-7, 2-4 PSAC) vs. #12 California (Pa.) (10-1, 4-1 PSAC)
 Game Details  Saturday, January 5 | 1:00 PM | Hammermill Center |   Erie, Pa
 Game Coverage  Live Video - Gannon Stretch Portal
 Radio - 90.5 FM WERG
 Live Stats - Click Here
 Twitter Updates - @GUKnights
 Tickets  MYAA Day - See Game Promotion for more info
 --
 Adults ($5)
 Non-Gannon Students and Senior Citizens ($3)
 Gannon Students, Faculty and Staff (FREE)
 Season Ticket Information – Click Here
 Gannon Links  Game Notes (PDF) | Roster | Schedule | Stats
 California (Pa.) Links  WBB Homepage | Roster | Schedule | Stats

GAME PROMOTION
  • Millcreek Youth Athletic Association (MYAA) Day: Any player wearing their MYAA jersey to the game receives free admission plus one free adult admission for the doubleheader. 

CALIFORNIA (PA) BROADCAST INFORMATION
  • Gannon Combined Stats (PDF): Click Here
  • Game Program: Click Here
  • Live Video: Gannon Stretch Portal
    • Broadcaster: Ray Riesdorph
  • Live Audio: 90.5 FM WERG (Erie)
    • Broadcaster: Brett Pryor
 
AROUND THE LEAGUE  
JIM BRUNELLI WEEKLY RADIO SHOW
  • Courtesy Sports Radio 1330 The Fan - Erie, Pa. (Hosted by Alex Womer) – Returns Next Week
 
CALIFORNIA SERIES INFORMATION
  • All-Time Series: California leads 21-20
  • First Meeting: 1981-82 – California 74, Gannon 66 (Neutral Site)
  • Last Meeting: February 7, 2018 – California 62, at Gannon 50 | Box Score
  • How It Happened: The Gannon Lady Knights fell short against the No.20-ranked California (Pa.) Lady Vulcans on a Wednesday night at the Hammermill Center, 62-50. Gannon was paced with 13 points and five rebounds from Nicole LaCava (Hermitage, Pa./Hickory).

GANNON STORYLINES/NOTES:
  • Gannon will look to get back on track at home in the midst of a tough stretch to begin divisional play in 2019. The Lady Knights are facing their second straight ranked opponent after taking on the No. 2 IUP Crimson Hawks on January 2.
  • Gannon's last victory against a nationally-ranked squad came against the Vulcans on February 21, 2015. The road win allowed Gannon to topple the 18th-ranked Vulcans at the Convocation Center, handing the Lady Knights a sweep in the regular-season series with California. A late basket by Candice Hendricks in the closing minute of regulation forced overtime and Gannon took control from there, scoring 10 of the 14 points in the extra session. Nettie Blake paced Gannon with 18 points and 11 rebounds for her 10th double-double of the season and 29th of her career.
  • Haley Tewes (Waterford, Mich./Waterford Kettering) notched 10 points against IUP on Wednesday. She is part of a balanced Gannon bench that has accounted for nearly 40% of the team's total scoring this season. By comparison, the California bench has accounted for just 26% of the Vulcans total scoring output.
  • Tori Obenrader (Fryburg, Pa./North Clarion) is second in the conference with six defensive rebounds per contest. The freshman is first on the squad with 7.2 rebounds/game and has pulled down at least five boards in nine games this season. The Lady Knights are fifth in the league in defensive rebounding (29.2) and third in rebounding margin (+5.0).
  • Nine different players have scored double digits in a game this season for Gannon, with LaCava and Chelsea Rourke (Gibsonia, Pa./Pine-Richland) leading the way with 10 and eight double-digit scoring efforts. LaCava is also just three games away from playing in 100 career collegiate contests for the Lady Knights.
  • The Lady Knights are still in search of consistent secondary scoring behind LaCava and Rourke. Currently Obenrader, Sydney Mitchell (Halethorpe, Md./Seton Keough) and Boston McKinney (Bolivar, Ohio/Tuscarawas Valley) all average at least 7.3 PPG and the offensive emergence of this group will add to a Gannon team that ranks 12th in the PSAC in scoring average (64.8).
  • Gannon is 5-1 when scoring 70 or more points this season.
 
SCOUTING CALIFORNIA (PA):
  • California had five players in double figures against Edinboro on January 2, but suffered their first loss of the 2018-19 campaign with a 99-92 road setback. The loss was the fifth straight against the Fighting Scots at the McComb Field House.
  • Seairra Barrett is second in the PSAC in scoring average at 25.0 points/game. The PSAC West Freshman of the Year in 2014-15 has posted individual scoring efforts of 41 points (West Liberty), 34 points (Charleston), 32 points (WV State) and 30 points (Bloomsburg) this season.
  • Gina Vallecorsa is second on the team in scoring at 10.6 points/game. Vallecorsa also ranks second on the team with 34 assists while Bianca Jasper leads the Vulcans with 58 assists.
  • The Vulcans share the ball extremely well, ranking second in the league and 11th nationally in assists/game (18.2). California paces the PSAC and is fifth in NCAA DII in both steals/game (14.1) and turnovers forced (25.64).   
  • Jess Strom is in her eighth season at the helm of the Vulcans basketball program. She guided California to the 2014-15 NCAA DII Women's Basketball Championship with an 86-69 triumph over California Baptist, claiming the second national title in program history. The former Penn State women's basketball standout has led the Vulcans to a 175-47 overall mark as head coach.    
 
UP NEXT:
  • Gannon gets back into the Wednesday-Saturday rhythm of conference play with a home matchup against Pitt-Johnstown on January 9 at 5:30 p.m.


 
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Players Mentioned

Nicole LaCava

#31 Nicole LaCava

C/F
6' 0"
Senior
Physician Assistant
Sydney Mitchell

#23 Sydney Mitchell

G
5' 11"
Sophomore
Nursing
Chelsea Rourke

#13 Chelsea Rourke

G/F
5' 10"
Junior
Nursing
Haley Tewes

#50 Haley Tewes

G
5' 11"
Junior
Digital Media
Boston McKinney

#15 Boston McKinney

G
5' 4"
Freshman
Early Childhood Education/Special Education
Tori Obenrader

#25 Tori Obenrader

G/F
5' 11"
Freshman
Sport and Exercise Science/Pre-Med

Players Mentioned

Nicole LaCava

#31 Nicole LaCava

6' 0"
Senior
Physician Assistant
C/F
Sydney Mitchell

#23 Sydney Mitchell

5' 11"
Sophomore
Nursing
G
Chelsea Rourke

#13 Chelsea Rourke

5' 10"
Junior
Nursing
G/F
Haley Tewes

#50 Haley Tewes

5' 11"
Junior
Digital Media
G
Boston McKinney

#15 Boston McKinney

5' 4"
Freshman
Early Childhood Education/Special Education
G
Tori Obenrader

#25 Tori Obenrader

5' 11"
Freshman
Sport and Exercise Science/Pre-Med
G/F