Backcourt leads Cal to NCAA tournament victory
GLENVILLE, W.Va. – Bianca Jasper and Abbey Sporio, California University’s starting guards, combined for 38 points and the Vulcans forged a huge first-half lead before having to hold off a late rally to defeat Charleston (W.Va.) 82-71 Friday night in the first round of the Atlantic Regional in the NCAA Division II women’s basketball basketball tournament.
California (25-5), the No. 4 seed in the regional, advances to the semifinals tonight and will play top-seeded Glenville State (30-2) at 7:30 p.m. Glenville rolled to a 116-92 victory over West Liberty. The Pioneers have won 21 consecutive games.
The other semifinal will match PSAC champion Indiana against Virginia Union. Each of the four first-round games were won by the higher-seeded team.
Cal forged a commanding 30-9 lead by the end of the first quarter and stretched the gap to 25 points, 51-26, at halftime. Jasper, the Vulcans’ point guard, entered the night averaging only 6.3 points per game on the season but scored 13 in the first quarter.
Charleston (25-7), the Mountain East Conference runner-up, pulled to within 63-46 after three quarters and the Golden Eagles continued to build momentum into the fourth quarter. Charleston got as close as 67-61 with 4:15 remaining, but a basket by Brionna Allen preceded a Charleston turnover and layup by Cal’s Seairra Barrett that gave the Vulcans a 71-61 lead with three minutes remaining, Charleston never threatened again.
In addition to her 20 points, Jasper had six rebounds, six assists and four steals.
Sporio scored 13 of her 18 points in the opening quarter and Barrettfinished with 17 points and and a game-high seven rebounds.
Raziyah Farrington led Charleston with 20 points.