CLARION -- Clarion University’s women’s basketball team will be making its first appearance in the PSAC Playoffs since the 1996-97 season when the Golden Eagles travel to California for a first-round game at 6 p.m. Tuesday. The game can be heard locally on the radio on WCUC-FM (91.7) and on the Internet at www.redzonemedia.com.

Clarion (12-14 overall, 6-6 PSAC-West) is the fourth seed from the PSAC-West while California (21-5, 10-2) is the top seed from the PSAC-West.

The Vulcans swept the season series from the Golden Eagles this year topping Clarion 81-61 Feb. 4 at Clarion and 81-54 Feb. 20 at California.

Clarion is led by 13th year head coach Margaret "Gie" Parsons. In her 13 seasons Parsons has a Clarion record of 196-165, while winning 5 PSAC-West titles, 3 PSAC crowns and 2 NCAA East Regional titles from 1991-95.

The Golden Eagles are led by senior center Christina Lantz, who is averaging 17.3 ppg and 7.7 rpg. Freshman forward Heather Cigich is adding 12.0 ppg and 9.3 rpg, while senior point guard Tiffany Taylor is contributing 10.6 ppg and 3.8 apg.

Junior guards Allison Stodart and Tameka Washington are adding 8.2 ppg and 8.0 ppg respectively, while freshman forward Amelia Harris is chipping in with 3.4 ppg. Jen Duhnke, a junior guard, is scoring 3.4 ppg for the Golden Eagles and has picked up her game the past three time out scoring 7.3 ppg in the last three contests.

Other key players for the Golden Eagles include Emil Rolf (2.3 ppg), Lindsay Kostorick (2.2 ppg) and Erin Stinnette (1.8 ppg & 1.5 rpg). Stinnette has been a key player off the bench for the Golden Eagles the last six games upping her average to 4.2 ppg and 2.0 rpg.

California, led by coach Darcy Vincent, is in her second season at Cal. The Vulcans were 19-10 last year and now a combined 40-15 in two years. Cal is led by freshman sensation Sara McKinney who is scoring 17.5 ppg to go along with 10.9 rpg, 4.4 apg and 2.1 spg.

Sameera Philyaw is adding 14.4 ppg and 7.1 rpg, and 6-9 center Susie Gyarfas is chipping in with 11.5 ppg, 6.5 rpg and 4.1 blocks per game. Stacia Hamilton is contributing 7.7 ppg, 5.6 rpg and 2.8 apg, Jenni Morrison is adding 6.8 ppg and Krystal Cornish is chipping in with 5.1 ppg.

Other key players for the Vulcans include Erin Dillon (4.7 ppg) and Kelli Sescourka (3.2 ppg).

CLARION NOTES: The winner of the Clarion-California game will take on the winner of the West Chester-Bloomsburg game at the highest remaining seed from the PSAC-West …… Clarion is making its seventh PSAC Playoff appearance under head coach Margaret "Gie" Parsons and its ninth in school history …… The Golden Eagles are 8-5 in their history in PSAC Playoff games and 8-3 under Parsons. Clarion has won three PSAC Titles (1991, 1993, 1994), all under Parsons …… California is making its ninth appearance as well and their second consecutive appearance …… The Vulcans are 3-8 in their history in PSAC Playoff games and have never won the PSAC Title …… Clarion and California have met once before in the PSAC Playoffs with the Golden Eagles getting a 71-69 win over the Vulcans in the 1994 PSAC Championship game …… California appeared in last season’s PSAC Title game losing to Shippensburg 86-71.