Box Score

Griffins senior guard Paige Alviani saved her best for last, in the final home game of her career, as she drained a 30 foot shot at the buzzer to give the Griffins a huge 72-69 victory over California (PA) on Wednesday.  You can watch the game winning shot here.  The victory sends the Griffins into the PSAC playoffs.  Seton Hill improves to 13-13 overall and 5-11 in PSAC West play.  The Griffins earned the sixth seed in the PSAC playoffs and will travel to California PA on Saturday for a first round contest.

Neither team was able to take control of the contest early as the score was tied at 10, five minutes into the contest.  Back to back three pointers from Mariah Wells and a layin from Mallory Sanner gave the Griffins a 22-15 lead with 10:28 to play in the first half.  Cal then went on a 7-0 run to tie the score.  A jumper from Tiara Stossel ended the run and gave SHU a 24-22 lead.  Cal was then able to build their lead to 31-26 with less than five minutes to play.  Two layups from Katie Gattuso tied the score at 31 with 1:44 left in the half.  Stossel's three point play gave SHU a 34-33 lead with 49 seconds to play but a Cal basket gave them a 35-34 lead at the halftime break.

Katie Gattuso opened the half with a layup to give SHU a 36-35 lead.  Kelly Brennan then followed with a layup to give SHU a 38-37 lead with 18:18 to play.  Over the next 10 minutes, the Vulcans were able to outscore the Griffins 20-12 to take a 57-50 lead with eight minutes to play.  Jharrin Gill, Kinross Obiefule and Mallory Sanner each hit layups to cut the lead to 57-56 with 5:46 to play.  After a Cal basket, Tiara Stossel hit a three to tie the score at 59 at the 5:06 mark.  Stossel's three point play gave SHU a 62-61 lead and Paige Alviani followed with a three pointer to push the lead to 65-61 with 2:57 to play.  Gattuso then hit two free throws to give SHU a 67-61 lead with 2:09 to play.  Gattuso's layin with 51 seconds to play gave SHU a 69-63 lead.  Cal then hit four free throws and a jumper from the paint to tie the score with 5 seconds to play setting up Alviani's heroics.  Alviani took the ball at the Cal free throw line, dribbled across half court and launched the shot from 30 feet out and banked it in for the victory.

Katie Gattuso led the Griffins with 21 points.  Tiara Stossel finished with 15 points and Paige Alviani was the third Griffin in double figures with 14 points.