Box Score The Griffins hosted #22 California on Saturday afternoon in a PSAC West contest looking to extend their winning streak to three games. Seton Hill battled the Vucans but came up short in the end, falling by a score of 73-65. SHU drops to 7-10 overall and 4-8 in PSAC play. California inproves to 14-2 overall and 11-1 in PSAC play.
California led throughout the early portion of the first half until the Griffins got seven straight points from
Meghan Mastroianni to tie the score at 10 four minutes into the contest. Cal then scored 10 of the next 13 points to build their lead to 20-13 at the 10 minute mark of the first half. SHU answered with 8 straight of their own on baskets from
Jenna Kaufman,
Jharrin Gill,
Mariah Wells and
Kelly Brennan to take a 21-20 lead with 7:20 to play in the first. Cal hit a free throw to tie the score at 21, the first of four times to come with the last being the score tied at 28 with 2:52 to play. Mastroianni broke the tie with a three pointer and two free throws from Brennan and
Chelsea Apke gave SHU a 35-30 halftime advantage.
Over the first six minutes of the second half, California battled back to take a 42-40 lead. Kaufman tied the score at 42 with a basket and Wells followed with a jumper that tied the score at 46, the last of 9 ties in the contest. Cal went on a quick 5-0 run before the Griffins would take their final lead of the game. With the Griffins trailing 53-48, Brennan drained back to back threes to put the Griffins back ahead 54-53 with 6:25 to play. Cal retook the lead on their next possession and would not give it up the rest of the way. Brennan answered a Cal three and cut the lead back to 58-57 with 5:02 to play. A basket from Apke again cut the lead to one at 60-59 with under four minutes to play. The Vulcans then converted a three point play and hit all eight of their free throws down the stretch to escape with a 73-65 victory.
Seton Hill shot 43% from the floor while the Vulcans hit 48% of their shots. SHU forced 20 Vulcan turnovers but were only able to score 9 points off them.
Chelsea Apke posted a double double to lead the Griffins with 16 points and 14 rebounds.
Kelly Brennan was next in line with 15 points.
Meghan Mastroianni was the other Griffin in double figures with 10 points.
Jharrin Gill finished with 8 points and 6 assists.
Seton Hill will travel to Mercyhurst on Wednesday for another PSAC West contest.
