CALIFORNIA, Pa. – The Clarion University men’s basketball team was defeated on the road by California University of Pennsylvania Wednesday evening by a final score of 84-78.
The loss moves the Golden Eagles to 5-14 overall (3-11 PSAC). The Blue and Gold return to action Saturday evening when they host Pitt-Johnstown at Tippin Gymnasium at 7:30 PM.
Jamani Pierce put on another spectacular performance, leading the Golden Eagles with a team-high 19 points. Justin Grant led the team with nine rebounds, while BJ Andrews turned in a 12-point, six rebound effort in the loss. Clarion shot 33% from the field, including 28% (7-25) from beyond the three-point arc.
Clarion took a 32-31 advantage into the locker room at halftime thanks to a pair of Cam Grumley free-throws with two seconds remaining in the first half. The Eagles fell behind early courtesy of a dramatic 14-0 run to start the game for Cal U, but thanks in part to a pair of big baskets from Manny Powell and some clutch free-throw shooting from Pierce, Clarion secured their first lead of the half at 24-24 and held on until the first-half buzzer.
It would not last for the Golden Eagles, however. The Vulcans would hit their opening shot of the second half to go up 33-32, never again conceding the lead for the rest of the game. Although the Eagles were within a few possessions most of the night and out-rebounded the Vulcans 42-38, Cal U outscored Clarion in the paint 34-24 en route to securing the win.
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL FALLS TO VULCANS
CALIFORNIA, Pa. – The Clarion women’s basketball team ran into a buzz saw in the fifth-ranked team in the nation, as the Golden Eagles fell to the California (Pa.) Vulcans 72-38 at the Convocation Center on Wednesday night. Clarion (12-8, 9-5 PSAC) will be back in action at home on Saturday when they host Pitt-Johnstown at Tippin Gymnasium.
The Golden Eagles hung tough with the Vulcans in the early going, keeping the game within five points at the end of the first quarter. California slowly pulled away in the second quarter, though, and proceeded to control the action completely in the second half for the win.
Jen Straw scored a team-high 12 points on 4-of-5 shooting from the field and also pulled in eight rebounds in just 25 minutes of action. She’s started in each of the last two games and is averaging 9.5 points and 8.0 rebounds in that span. Amesha Harden-Pullium scored seven points, while Nicole Maxson and Delrika Jones-Carey each grabbed six rebounds.
Clarion won the rebounding battle 40-35 but struggled in giving up 17 offensive rebounds and 36 points in the paint. They were effective at the free throw line, though, going 10-of-12 from the charity stripe.
The first quarter was the best for the Golden Eagles, who despite a cold shooting performance trailed just 13-8 after 10 minutes of action. Tyra Polite cut the Vulcans’ lead to just 8-5 with a three-pointer at the 3:55 mark of the quarter, and Harden-Pullium swished a trey with just 20 seconds remaining in the period to make it 13-8.
California built up a 12-point lead with 4:18 remaining in the second quarter on a jumper by Precious Martin, but Harden-Pullium countered with a transition jumper to make it 23-13. Polite briefly brought the lead back into single digits with a free throw at the 2:08 mark, but the Vulcans closed on a 7-0 run to hold a 30-14 lead at half.
The Vulcans outscored the Golden Eagles 27-12 in the third quarter to open up an even larger lead, and outpaced them 15-12 in the fourth to lock up the win. Tynita White came in and provided solid minutes, though, scoring six points and pulling in three rebounds in just eight minutes of action.
WOMEN’S SWIM TEAM EARNS ACADEMIC AWARD
CLARION, Pa. – The Clarion University women’s swimming and diving team was named one of the College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) Scholar All-America Teams for the 2016 fall semester. The award is given each term to those programs that maintain an average GPA of at least 3.0 or higher throughout the entirety of the semester.
“These student-athletes are the perfect example of the quality of character we are looking for to build a successful program at Clarion,” head coach Brehan Kelly said. “They have consistently demonstrated an unwavering, disciplined work ethic inside and outside the classroom. It’s a well deserved honor for all of their hard work. We our very proud to have them represent our team, and serve as an example for all of us to strive within ourselves to be the best that we can be.”
Of the 63 Division II women’s programs that received the honor, Clarion’s cumulative team GPA of 3.62 is the 7th-highest of any school. This is the fourth consecutive semester that the CU women’s team has received this award.
Founded in 1922, the College Swimming Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) – the oldest organization of college coaches in America -is a professional organization of college swimming and diving coaches dedicated to serving and providing leadership for the advancement of the sport of swimming & diving at the collegiate level.
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