CLARION TO HOST CALIFORNIA IN KEY PSAC-WEST GAMES SATURDAY

            The Clarion University men’s and women’s basketball teams will host California in key PSAC-West games Saturday. The women’s game is at 6 p.m. followed by the men’s game at 8 p.m.

WOMEN’S GAME PITS TOP TWO TEAMS IN EAST REGION

            The women’s game pits the top two teams in the latest NCAA Division II East Region poll with Clarion (15-3 overall, 3-0 PSAC-West) ranked No. 2 and California (15-3, 3-0) is ranked No. 1.

            Clarion is coming off an 87-51 win at Slippery Rock Wednesday, and the Golden Eagles have won seven straight and 11 of their last 13.

            Senior forward Heather Cigich is averaging 16.4 ppg, 9.4 rpg, 3.1 apg and 2.1 spg. She had a game-high 21 points and nine rebounds in the win over Slippery Rock and became the third player in school history and the 14^th in the history of the PSAC to record 1,000 career rebounds. She now has 1,001 career rebounds and 1,617 career points.

            Fellow seniors Shay Godwin (15.0 ppg, 10.1 rpg), Amelia Harris (11.2 ppg, 4.9 rpg) and Tiffany Peacock (8.0 ppg), junior Melba Melton (11.1 ppg, 4.9 apg) and freshmen Jessica Albanese (8.2 ppg, 5.1 rpg) and Ashley Grimm (5.6 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 4.5 apg) are also playing key roles for Clarion.

            California suffered a 73-70 loss at Pitt-Johnstown Wednesday that snapped a 13-game winning streak for the Vulcans. Erin Dillon had a career-high 26 points in the game.

            Sara McKinney leads California with 14.7 ppg and 9.2 rpg and has over 1,700 career points and 1,000 career rebounds.

            Megan Storck is adding 11.7 ppg, 3.1 rpg and 6.4 apg, while Kim Nowakoswki contributes 10.2 ppg, 5.4 rpg. Dillon chips in 9.4 ppg as does Dani Mills. Lisa Gottuso gives the Vulcans six players at 8 ppg or more averaging 8.0 ppg.

MEN’S GAME MATCHES TWO TEAMS LOOKING TO REBOUND

            The men’s game features two teams who are struggling a bit of late and are coming off PSAC-West loses.

            Clarion (11-6 overall, 1-2 PSAC-West) fell 66-60 to Slippery Rock Wednesday with Ryan Wells the lone Golden Eagle in double figures with 17 points. Clarion has lost three of its past five games.

            California (11-6, 1-2)  lost 71-68 to Edinboro Saturday, and the Vulcans have lost two in a row and three of their last four.

            Wells leads Clarion with 16.8 ppg and 8.4 rpg. Michael Clarke is adding 14.6 ppg and 8.1 rpg, while Terrace Vaughns contributes 12.1 ppg and 51.1 rpg. Bobby Franklin is chipping in 8.7 ppg and 3.6 apg.

            Boris Mesnager is leading the Vulcans with 14.8 ppg, 7.2 rpg, while Sharif Bray is contributing 13.9 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 3.4 apg.

            Additional key contributors for California are Travis Eisentrout (9.7 ppg), Damar Ruffin (8.2 ppg) and London Houston (7.1 ppg).

            The Vulcans have been hurt by the loss of leading scorer Drew Schifino (19.1 ppg), who was declared ineligible by the NCAA earlier this month. Without Schifino, California is 3-3 after starting the season 8-3 with him.