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Little things have Vulcans thinking big

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CALIFORNIA – Though the California University women’s basketball team can advance to NCAA Division II’s biggest stage, the Elite Eight, by defeating Bloomsburg tonight, Vulcans coach Jess Strom has been thinking small.

“The key to beating Bloomsburg will be doing the little things,” Strom said Saturday night after California finished off a tense and physical 69-64 victory over West Liberty in the second round of the Atlantic Regional.

Doing those little things, such as making free throws, not fouling, rebounding, protecting the three-point line, taking high-percentage shots, committing fewer turnovers than you force and outhustling the opponent are large reasons why California (28-4) is still playing basketball in mid-March.

The Vulcans will face Bloomsburg (26-4), the PSAC’s East Division champion, at Hamer Hall (7 p.m.) in the regional final. The winner advances to the Elite Eight March 24-27 in Sioux Falls, S.D.

“The team that does the little things better, that plays defense better, that does the better job of rebounding is going to win,” Strom said.

The last time Cal and Bloomsburg met – March 7 in the PSAC tournament semifinals on the Huskies’ home court – it was Cal doing the little things. The Vulcans won 63-48 en route to winning the conference title. In the first meeting between the teams, in early January and also on the Huskies’ home court, Bloomsburg pulled away in the second half for a 68-56 victory. Since that game the only team to beat California was Gannon, but Bloomsburg will be playing with revenge in mind. That makes the talented Huskies even more dangerous.

“They’re a very good team,” Strom said. “At least it’s an all-PSAC final, East vs. West.”

California, the top seed in the regional, got here by defeating Virginia State, 86-75, and West Liberty. Bloomsburg erased a 12-point second-half deficit and beat Gannon 81-76 in the first round before dominating Shepherd, 85-69, Saturday to advance to the Sweet 16.

Bloomsburg features Marla Simmons (14.0 ppg, 5.7 rpg), the PSAC’s East Division Player of the Year, who scored 22 points against Shepherd, and Adreana Sadowski (11.2 ppg), who had 20 points against Gannon.

The Huskies must stop Cal senior guard Kaitlynn Fratz, who scored 32 points in the Vulcans’ win at Bloomsburg nine days ago. Fratz played a key role down the stretch against West Liberty, scoring two baskets including a three-pointer, grabbing an offensive rebound and drawing a charge in the final six minutes after West Liberty had pulled to within two points of the lead.

Cal made 18 of 20 foul shots against the Hilltoppers and has been converting at an impressive rate at the free-throw line. The Vulcans made 33 of 35 free throws in the PSAC title game against West Chester.

“We practice shooting a lot of foul shots when we’re tired,” said point guard Miki Glenn, who was 8-for-8 at the free-throw line against West Liberty and has made 84 percent of her fouls shots on the season.

“I think I shoot free throws better when I’m tired. That’s when I feel like I need to concentrate more.”

Bloomsburg is back in the regional final for the second consecutive year. The Huskies lost to Edinboro 82-76 last year in a round of 16 in Glenville, W.Va.

“Going back to the Sweet 16 for the second year in a row, but we’re not done yet,” Bloomsburg coach Bill Cleary told reporters Saturday.

“This is the position we wanted to put ourselves in ever since we lost last year at this point,” said Bloomsburg guard Jocelyn Ford, who has 29 points in two NCAA regional games.

Cal struggled in the first meeting with Bloomsburg against the Huskies’ zone defense. The Huskies were the PSAC’s top defense, allowing only 59 points per game.

“I don’t like the defense they play,” Strom said. “We think we finally figured it out the last time we played them. In that first game against Bloomsburg, we didn’t play well offensively or defensively. It was just a bad game by us.”

The Vulcans do like playing at cozy Hamer Hall, where they are 12-1 in NCAA tournament games. The regional was moved to Hamer because a cheerleading competition was booked for the weekend at the convocation center.

“We love playing at home now,” Glenn said. “The fans at Hamer are so close that you can hear them cheering and they have been loud. It’s a great place to play.”

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