Third-ranked Lady Vulcans win 15th straight
CALIFORNIA – Most coaches start to feel pressure when their team is struggling. Darcie Vincent is feeling plenty of pressure right now as coach of California University of Pa.’s women’s basketball team, but it’s of an entirely different variety.
The Lady Vulcans, who ascended to No. 3 in the latest NCAA Division II poll, kept their record perfect at 15-0 with a methodical 70-47 victory over visiting Clarion at Hamer Hall on Wednesday night.
It was the PSAC-West opener for both teams.
California’s Becky Siembak took game-high honors in scoring and rebounding with 21 points and 19 boards, and 6-foot-9 center Suzie Gyarfas just missed a triple-double with 12 points, 11 rebounds and nine blocked shots.
The Lady Vulcans, who are ranked No. 1 in the east region, have never been this high in the national polls, eclipsing coach Paul Flores’ 1993-94 squad which peaked at No. 4.
They’re also in everybody’s crosshairs right now.
“I’m as stressed as I’ve ever been right now,” Vincent said, albeit with a smile. “We found out we were No. 3 right before the game, and there was a lot of anxiousness. I loved our intensity level in the first half, but we missed 11 layups. We settled down in the second half.”
California broke a 6-6 tie with an 11-point run and never trailed again. The Lady Vulcans led by as much as 13 in the first half before settling on a 29-20 advantage.
The Golden Eagles (9-6) cut the margin to 35-29 on a Courtney Willman basket early in the second half, but Cal answered with a seven-point run to go up 13.
Like a demolition machine, the Lady Vulcans kept pounding away until they eventually reduced the Lady Eagles to rubble. Clarion never got closer than 11 the rest of the way and trailed by as much as 26 at one point as California extended its home winning streak to 27 games.
Sameera Philyaw sparked Cal in the second half by scoring 13 of her 17 points. The Lady Vulcans dominated inside and out-rebounded the Lady Eagles 61-34. Sara McKinney had eight boards, Stacia Hamilton grabbed seven and Philyaw snagged six.
Cal was unselfish in the assist department also, as six different Lady Vulcans had at least two. Hamilton and Megan Storck led the way with four apiece.
Amelia Harris scored 16 points to lead Clarion, which fell to California for the 10th straight time.
Vincent, in her third season as Cal coach, tried to make it clear to her players just how important the first conference game was going in.
“I told them right now that this is a new season to us,” Vincent said. “Everyone is 0-0.”
Still, Vincent admitted it’s hard to ignore what a roll the Lady Vulcans are on and the national attention they are receiving … and the target on their backs.
“Every day we become more and more stressed out as a staff,” said Vincent, who laughingly referred to the possibility of a few gray hairs popping up. “I’m going to have to get my hair dyed now instead of just cut.”
Even Vincent, however, is impressed with her team’s sparkling start.
“At this point, we’ve already accomplished more than anyone thought,” said Vincent, who guided the Lady Vulcans to a 44-16 record in her first two years at the helm. “I do believe we are a national contender.”
Two local products have enjoyed the ride as well. Laurel Highlands graduate Shelbey Wardman, who is an assistant coach at Cal, and sophomore guard Beth Lengvarsky, who is a Uniontown graduate, have never been on a team on such a roll.
“I never thought I’d be part of a national contender,” said Lengvarsky, who is coming off knee surgery and got on the court briefly in Wednesday’s game. “It’s nice to get recognized, and this team is well deserving of it. We work hard. Our practices are unbelievable.”
“This almost scares me,” said Wardman with a smile. “We were ranked in the top 25 when I played at Slippery Rock (under Vincent), but it was nothing like this. Every team is definitely out to get you. This is one of the greatest teams I’ve ever been part of. This team is incredible.”
The Lady Vulcans will try to extend their streak to 16 on Saturday when they travel to Indiana University of Pa. for a 6 p.m. PSAC-West clash.