PSAC Women's Basketball Weekly Release - March 23
Host Site
San Antonio, Texas - The California (Pa.) women's basketball team will play in the NCAA Elite Eight for the second straight year this week, as the Vulcans look to win the program's second national championship. The Vulcans will take on Franklin Pierce in the national quarterfinals on Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. (ET).
If victorious on Tuesday, the Vulcans would then face the winner of the Delta State-West Texas A&M game in the national semifinals on Wednesday at 9:30 p.m. (ET). Both national semifinals will be televised live on ESPNU. The national championship is set for Friday night at 8:00 p.m. Alaska-Anchorage and Clayton State will battle in one other quarterfinals while Michigan Tech and Minnesota State-Mankato tangle in the other quarterfinal on the other side of the bracket.
Cal won its second straight regional championship last week with a victory over Gannon. The Vulcans lost to Delta State in the national quarterfinals last year. St. Mary's University of Texas will host the Elite Eight this year.
PSAC Team Notes
California Vulcans
Cal U is making its fourth appearance in the Elite Eight since 2003 ... The Vulcans won their second-straight regional championship two weeks ago, earning three victories by an average of 27.0 points per game ... In the regional tournament, Cal U posted victories over both District of Columbia and Gannon - two teams that registered victories against the Vulcans during the regular season ... Junior guard Brooque Williams was named Atlantic Regional Tournament MVP after averaging 23.3 points, 7.7 rebounds, 3.7 steals and 2.3 assists ... Williams enters the Elite Eight only 10 points shy of breaking the single-season PSAC scoring record ... Cal U will face Franklin Pierce in the Elite Eight on Tuesday ... Both teams made an appearance in the Elite Eight last season ... Franklin Pierce features the returning WBCA Player of the Year in junior Johannah Leedham, who is averaging 23.1 points, 6.2 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 3.0 steals per game this season.
Past PSAC Elite Eight Results (since 1984)
2008 Delta State 75, California 64 (quarterfinals)
2004 California 75, Drury 72 (championship)
California 89, Merrimack 65 (semifinals)
California 96, South Dakota State 79 (quarterfinals)
2003 Northern Kentucky 45, California 43 (semifinals)
California 76, North Florida 62
2001 North Dakota 76, Shippensburg 67 (semifinals)
Shippensburg 70, Delta State 65 (quarterfinals)
2000 Western Washington 84, Slippery Rock 67 (quarterfinals)
1999 Northern Kentucky 75, IUP 67 (quarterfinals)
1998 Emporia State 122, Shippensburg 84 (quarterfinals)
1997 North Dakota 81, Edinboro 46 (quarterfinals)
1996 North Dakota 104, Shippensburg 78 (championship)
Shippensburg 84, Abilene Christian 81 (semifinals)
Shippensburg 78, Wingate 64 (quarterfinals)
1994 North Alabama 75, Clarion 69 (quarterfinals)
1991 Norfolk State 91, Clarion 69 (quarterfinals)
1990 Delta State 90, Lock Haven 59 (quarterfinals)
1989 Bentley 73, Bloomsburg 68 (quarterfinals)
NCAA Elite Eight Quick Hits
- This is California (Pa.)’s eighth straight appearance in the NCAA Tournament and its second straight trip to the NCAA Elite Eight.
- Cal will be looking to become the first PSAC team to win a game at the Elite Eight since the 2004 edition of the Vulcans captured the national championship.
- The last PSAC team other than Cal to advance to the Elite Eight was Shippensburg in 2001.
- Cal holds a 4-2 all-time record at the NCAA Elite Eight.
- Cal’s meeting against Franklin Pierce in the national quarterfinals will mark the first time that a PSAC team has matched up against Franklin Pierce in the Elite Eight.
Past PSAC Regional Champions (since 1984)
2009 California (Pa.)
2008 California (Pa.)
2004 California (Pa.)
2003 California (Pa.)
2001 Shippensburg
2000 Slippery Rock
1999 IUP
1998 Shippensburg
1997 Edinboro
1996 Shippensburg
1994 Clarion
1991 Clarion
1990 Lock Haven
1989 Bloomsburg