Women's Basketball 2/11/2019 9:45:00 PM Josh Hill, Assistant Director of Athletics Media Relations

PREVIEW: Gannon’s Tough Stretch Continues at #21/23 California (Pa.) on Wednesday (Video/Game Notes)

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL GAMEDAY CENTRAL
Game 25: Gannon (11-13, 7-9 PSAC) at #21/23 California (Pa.) (18-3, 12-3 PSAC)

Game Details	Wednesday, February 13 \| 5:30 PM \| Covocation Center \| Erie, Pa. (Directions)
Game Coverage	Live Video – California Stretch Portal Radio – Fox Sports Radio 1330 AM The Fan (Erie) Live Audio Stream – Click Here Live Stats – Click Here Twitter Updates - @GUKnights
Gannon Links	Game Notes (PDF) \| Roster \| Schedule \| Stats
California Links	WBB Homepage \| Roster \| Schedule \| Stats

JIM BRUNELLI WEEKLY RADIO SHOW

Hosted by Alex Womer: Click Here (or watch above)
Courtesy Fox Sports Radio 1330 AM The Fan - Erie, Pa.

CALIFORNIA (PA) BROADCAST INFORMATION:

Gannon Combined Stats (PDF): Click Here
Live Video: PSAC Digital Network (CUTV; California Stretch Portal)
- Broadcasters: TBA
Live Audio: Fox Sports Radio 1330 AM The Fan (Erie)
- Broadcaster: Alex Womer

AROUND THE LEAGUE:

PSAC Standings: Click Here
PSAC Stats: Click Here
PSAC Composite Schedule: Click Here
Basketball Athletes of the Week (Week 12): Click Here

CALIFORNIA (PA) SERIES INFORMATION:

All-Time Series: California leads 22-20
First Meeting: 1981-82 – California 74, Gannon 66 (Neutral Site)
Last Meeting: January 5, 2019: California 69, at Gannon 55 | Box Score
How It Happened: California closed the third quarter on a 10-2 scoring run to pull ahead by double digits heading into the final quarter of play. Chelsea Rourke (Gibsonia, Pa./Pine-Richland) surged ahead for a fastbreak layup at the 4:26 mark of the third quarter, trimming the Vulcan lead to six at 48-42, but the Lady Knights would only trail by single digits on just two more occasions in the contest as the visitors pulled away on a Saturday afternoon.

GANNON STORYLINES/NOTES:

Gannon (11-13, 7-9 PSAC) played strong in spurts against fourth-ranked IUP before the Crimson Hawks took control late and defeated the Lady Knights 66-52 at the Hammermill Center.
Saturday was the beginning of a daunting three-game stretch for Gannon against the top three teams in the PSAC West standings. The Lady Knights enter Wednesday in sixth place in the western division, currently occupying the final playoff spot in the conference tournament if the season ended today.
Sophomore G Sydney Mitchell (Halethorpe, Md./Seton Keough) was the lone Lady Knight in double figures against IUP, notching 14 points, three rebounds, two steals and two blocks in 32 minutes of work. Mitchell, who is ninth in the conference with 3.8 assists/game, has dropped in at least nine points in five of the last six games.
Despite being held in check offensively the past two games, senior F Nicole LaCava (Hermitage, Pa./Hickory) still paces the team in scoring with 13.6 points/game on 62.7% shooting from the floor.
LaCava notched a team-high 16 points in the first meeting with the Vulcans this season back on January 5.
Freshman G Boston McKinney (Bolivar, Ohio/Tuscarawas Valley) made her first collegiate start on Saturday against IUP and played 20 or more minutes for the 12^th time this season. McKinney is one of five Lady Knights to average at least 7.0 points/game.
Gannon has been outscored 436-367 in the fourth quarter of games this season.
Taking care of the ball will once again be at a premium for Gannon as California (Pa.) leads the league with a +9.9 turnover margin. The Lady Knights committed 28 turnovers in the first meeting this season with the Vulcans.
Freshman G/F Tori Obenrader (Fryburg, Pa./North Clarion) has shot 56.2% (9-of-16) from the floor over the past two games, including a 13-point effort against Seton Hill on February 6. She earned the PSAC West WBB Freshman of the Week award for the fourth time on Monday.
Gannon had a balanced effort in the rebounding column with four players grabbing five or more boards against IUP. The Lady Knights are second in the league with a +5.5 rebounding margin.
With six assists against the Crimson Hawks, Gannon was limited to its lowest assist total since the first meeting of the season with IUP on January 2. The Lady Knights have dished out at least 10 assists in all but three games this season.
The Lady Knights boast a 6-4 record in road games this season, but have lost two of the past three outings away from the Hammermill Center.

SCOUTING CALIFORNIA (PA):

California (18-3, 12-3 PSAC) is also coming off back-to-back losses, including a narrow 62-61 home loss to Edinboro last time out on February 9.
The Vulcans had a 44-game home winning streak snapped with the defeat to the Fighting Scots. CalU is fourth in the most recent D2SIDA Atlantic Region Poll, released on Monday, and rank #21 (WBCA) and #23 (D2SIDA) in the Top 25 Polls.
California is in a relatively unfamiliar spot as a program, losing consecutive games in PSAC West play for the first time since the 2013-14 season.
Seairra Barrett is arguably the front-runner for PSAC West Player of the Year. The redshirt senior is second in the league in scoring (22.6 PPG) and third in rebounding (8.7 RPG).
Barrett stole the show in the first meeting with Gannon this season on January 5 at the Hammermill Center. She scored a game-high 22 points on 8-of-14 shooting and added seven rebounds, six assists and five steals against the Lady Knights in 36 minutes.
California is an aggressive defensive unit, averaging a league-best 13.76 steals/game.
The Vulcans are holding opponents to just 59.6 points/game and are outscoring opponents by an average of 13.1 points/game.
While Barrett is the top statistical offensive threat for the Vulcans, four players average at least 8.0 points per contest. Junior G Gina Vallecorsa (10.2 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 2.9 APG) is second on the team in scoring, rebounds and assists.

UP NEXT:

Gannon returns home this weekend to host nearby Edinboro at the Hammermill Center on Saturday, February 16 at 1:00 PM.
In addition to the Alumni Appreciation Game, the contest will also serve as the Hall of Fame Doubleheader with five athletes, one team and one coach being indicted into the Gannon University Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2019.

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Players Mentioned

#31 Nicole LaCava: C/F; 6' 0"; Senior; Physician Assistant

#23 Sydney Mitchell: G; 5' 11"; Sophomore; Nursing

#13 Chelsea Rourke: G/F; 5' 10"; Junior; Nursing

#15 Boston McKinney: G; 5' 4"; Freshman; Early Childhood Education/Special Education

#25 Tori Obenrader: G/F; 5' 11"; Freshman; Sport and Exercise Science/Pre-Med

Players Mentioned

#31 Nicole LaCava
: 6' 0"; Senior; Physician Assistant
: C/F

#23 Sydney Mitchell
: 5' 11"; Sophomore; Nursing
: G

#13 Chelsea Rourke
: 5' 10"; Junior; Nursing
: G/F

#15 Boston McKinney
: 5' 4"; Freshman; Early Childhood Education/Special Education
: G

#25 Tori Obenrader
: 5' 11"; Freshman; Sport and Exercise Science/Pre-Med
: G/F

Scoreboard

Players Mentioned

Players Mentioned