West Chester, Pa. – Jahzinga Tracey tallied game highs of 21 points and 13 rebounds to lead Indiana (Pa.) to a 60-51 overtime win over California (Pa.) in the title game of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Women’s Basketball Championship.
IUP (25-5), which never led until 4:12 left in overtime, outscored the Vulcans 11-2 in the extra session to gain its third straight PSAC title and an automatic berth in the NCAA Atlantic Region Championships.
California (26-4), playing in the PSAC title game for the ninth straight season, looked poised to upend the two-time defending champions when it held a nine-point lead with only 3:22 left in regulation. IUP, however, scored the final nine points of the contest, including one on a free throw by Tracey with eight second left to send the game into overtime. Eryn Withers scored six of her 14 points during the final stretch on a pair of 3-pointers.
The Vulcans had four players in double figures, led by Lindsay Johnson with 14 points. Cyrstal Andrews (12), Brooque Williams (11 points, 12 rebounds) and Kayla Smith (10 points, 10 rebounds) were other key contributors.
IUP shot only 29.6 percent in the first half and trailed by 11 at the 17:55 mark of the second half when California’s Smith converted a lay up. The Crimson Hawks battled back over the next six minutes, going on an 11-4 run to cut the deficit to 34-30 with 12:09 on the clock.
California extended the lead on several occasions over the next nine minutes, peaking at the nine point margin before IUP made its comeback in the final 3:22. The Vulcans outrebounded IUP, 41-34 and hit on 6 of 16 from the 3-point line. IUP finished 3 of 16 from the 3-point line, which included Withers’ two trifectas in the final minutes.
The Vulcans, who came into the tournament ranked No. 1 in the Atlantic Region, will likely receive an at large bid when the pairings are announced by the NCAA office on Sunday night.