IUP Wins PSAC Women's Basketball Title
SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. --- The IUP Crimson Hawks won the 2017 PSAC Women’s Basketball Championship against the California Vulcans, 84-79, Sunday afternoon at Heiges Field House in Shippensburg, Pa.
IUP improved to 23-6 on the season while Cal fell to 28-3.
IUP sophomore Carolyn Appleby earned Tournament MVP after scoring 30 points on Sunday and going a perfect 10-of-10 from the charity stripe.
The Crimson Hawks won their fifth PSAC championship and first since 2009. IUP moves to 4-1 all-time in PSAC title games against Cal.
IUP’s Brittany Robinson and Megan Smith chipped in with 17 points each while Halle Denmen dished out seven assists.
Cal junior Seairra Barrett led all scorers with a 31-point effort.
The Vulcans held a slim 31-30 advantage at the intermission.
IUP shot 56.6% from the field while Cal was good for 49.1%. The difference came from behind the arc where IUP went 9-for-14 and Cal went 2-for-10.
Cal is ranked No. 3 in the country and entered the week as No. 1 in the Atlantic Region. IUP sat fourth, Mercyhurst fifth, Shippensburg sixth and Edinboro ninth. The top eight teams from the region will advance to the tournament.
IUP earned an automatic bid to the NCAA DII Women’s Basketball Championship and awaits its fate Sunday at 10 p.m.
FINAL - March 5 (at Shippensburg)
No. 2 (W) IUP 84, No. 1 (W) California 79
Box Score
IUP Recap
California Recap
SEMIFINALS - March 4 (at Shippensburg)
No. 1 (W) California 71, No. 2 (E) East Stroudsburg 69
Box Score
California Recap
East Stroudsburg Recap
No. 2 (W) IUP 67, No. 1 (E) Shippensburg 58 (OT)
Box Score
IUP Recap
Shippensburg Recap
QUARTERFINALS - March 1
No. 1 (E) Shippensburg 60, No. 5 (E) Bloomsburg 44
Box Score
Shippensburg Recap
Bloomsburg Recap
No. 2 (W) IUP 78, No. 3 (W) Mercyhurst 61
Box Score
IUP Recap
Mercyhurst Recap
No. 1 (W) California 64, No. 4 (W) Edinboro 61
Box Score
California Recap
Edinboro Recap
No. 2 (E) East Stroudsburg 82, No. 6 (E) Millersville 53
Box Score
ESU Recap
Millersville Recap
1ST ROUND - February 27
No 4. (W) Edinboro 82, No. 5 (W) Seton Hill, 50
Box Score
Edinboro Recap
Seton Hill Recap
No. 3 (W) Mercyhurst 74, No. 6 (W) Clarion 46
Box Score
Mercyhurst Recap
Clarion Recap
No. 6 (E) Millersville 69, No. 3 (E) Kutztown 65
Box Score
Millersville Recap
Kutztown Recap
No. 5 (E) Bloomsburg 79, No. 4 (E) West Chester 71
Box Score
Bloomsburg Recap
West Chester Recap
TOURNAMENT PREVIEW
LOCK HAVEN, Pa. --- The 2017 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Women's Basketball Tournament 12-team field has been set following the conclusion of the regular season Saturday.
The top six teams from each division earned an opportunity to win the PSAC Women's Basketball Championship while the top two teams from each division earned a first-round bye.
The highest remaining seed from the East will host the semifinals and finals.
The California Vulcans earned the No. 1 seed in the West and look to three-peat as tournament champions after claiming the 2016 title with a 62-52 victory against IUP. Cal enters play with a 26-2, 20-2 PSAC mark and will host a quarterfinal at 6 p.m. Wednesday, March 1.
IUP claimed the No. 2 seed in the West after posting a 20-6, 18-4 mark during the regular season. The Crimson Hawks look to claim their first title since 2009.
Mercyhurst holds the No. 3 seed in the West after winning six of its final seven games. The Lakers will host No. 6 Clarion Monday, Feb. 27 at 5:30 p.m.
Clarion picked up a road win in its regular-season finale at Edinboro while boasting a 15-13 overall record.
No. 4 Edinboro will play host to No. 5 Seton Hill at 5:30 p.m. Monday. The two teams split in the regular season with the road team winning each contest.
In the East, Shippensburg claimed the No. 1 seed after producing a 23-5, 18-4 mark and are riding an 18-game win streak. The Raider defense leads the PSAC in points allowed (56.0) and will host a quarterfinal Wednesday, March 1 at 5:30 p.m.
SHIP will host the winner of No. 4 West Chester and No. 5 Bloomsburg.
Both teams come into the tournament with identical 10-16 regular season records.
The East Stroudsburg Warriors claimed the No. 2 seed with an 18-8, 14-8 record and will host a quarterfinal at 7 p.m.
ESU will battle the winner of No. 3 Kutztown and No. 6 Millersville.
KU earned the No. 3 seed after winning six of its last seven, including a pair of road wins in the final week.
The tournament victor earns an automatic bid to the NCAA DII Women's Basketball Tournament.
Monday, February 27 - 1st Round
No. 5 West Seton Hill at No. 4 West Edinboro - 5:30 p.m.
No. 6 West Clarion at No. 3 West Mercyhurst - 5:30 p.m.
No. 6 East Millersville at No. 3 East Kutztown - 7 p.m.
No. 5 East Bloomsburg at No. 4 East West Chester - 7 p.m.
Wednesday, March 1 - Quarterfinals
Winner of WCU/Bloom at No. 1 East Shippensburg - 5:30 p.m.
Winner of Mercyhurst/Clarion at No. 2 West IUP - 5:30 p.m.
Winner of Edinboro/Seton Hill at No. 1 West California - 6 p.m.
Winner of Millersville/Kutztown at No. 2 East East Stroudsburg - 7 p.m.
Saturday, March 4 - Semifinals (Top remaining East Seed will host)
Semifinal 1 will be at 1 p.m.
Semifinal 2 will be at 3:30 p.m. (Top remaining East seed)
Sunday, March 5 - Final
SF 1 Winner vs. SF 2 Winner - 3 p.m.