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Loss eliminates Vulcans from PSAC tournament

3 min read

SLIPPERY ROCK – With its postseason fate on the line, California needed to play consistent basketball for four quarters against Slippery Rock.

That didn’t happen.

The Vulcans led midway through the second half, but The Rock rallied for a 57-50 victory over California in the PSAC regular-season finale.

California’s season ends with a 14-14 overall record, while Slippery Rock (20-9) advanced to the PSAC Tournament.

It was not the loss that ended the Vulcan’s season. Though Pitt-Johnstown was also defeated by Edinboro, Cal missed the postseason because of the regular season tie-breaker.

The Rock’s Frank Holloway and Antonio Butler combined for 33 points with 17 and 16 respectively. Slippery Rock out-rebounded the Vulcans, 48-35, and only trailed for a span of 3:58, most of which came during the second half.

Cal trailed, 26-20, at halftime, but fought back to take a 38-36 lead with 8:54 remaining in regulation. Slippery Rock answered with an 11-2 run to grab a seven-point lead and held on for the victory. The Rock made 19 of 23 free throws and led by as many as nine points. Slippery Rock also got 21 points from its bench and capitalized with 25 second-chance points.

Arman Marks led the Vulcans with 15 points and Khalil Jabbie had 13.

Women’s result

California 74, Slippery Rock 48: Senior Irina Kukolj scored a career-high 24 points to help California earn the second seed in the PSAC Tournament with a 74-48 victory over Slippery Rock Wednesday night.

The Vulcans finished the regular season with a 23-4 overall record. As the second seed, Cal earned a first-round bye and will host a quarterfinal game Tues., March 3 at 7 p.m. Slippery Rocy (11-15) qualified for the tournament as the sixth seed.

Kukolj’s 24 points led all players after making 10 of 20 from the field, including three three-pointers. She added six rebounds, six assists and four steals.

Freshman Seairra Barrett set career highs with 17 points and 12 brebounds. Senior Emma Mahady and sophomore Miki Glenn added eight points.

There were eight lead changes and four ties in the first half and Kukolj scored 12 first-half points to help the Vulcans to a 30-27 halftime lead. They forced 16 turnovers in the first half, but shot just 28.6 percent from the field.

Cal took control in the second half by going on a 21-0 run over a span of seven-plus minutes to take a 54-31 lead. Kukolj and Glenn combined for 16 points during the spurt, which resulted from The Rock’s 10 turnovers.

The Vulcans closed the game on an 18-2 run and finished the game shooting 36.1 percent from the field despite missing 17 three-pointers. Cal also forced 29 turnovers.

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