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Siembak key in Cal women’s win over Millersville

By Jim Wexell For The 3 min read

CALIFORNIA – For the initial seven minutes of its first-round game Friday night, California didn’t look like the second-best team in the NCAA Division II Women’s East region, let alone the second-best team in the country. Then PSAC-West Player of the Year Becky Siembak entered the game and California went on an 8-0 run that catapulted the Vulcans to a 73-58 win over Millersville.

California’s leading scorer and rebounder during the regular season, Siembak wasn’t in the starting lineup after missing four days of practice with an injured lower back. She scored only 12 points in 19 minutes, but it was obvious to the small crowd at the California gym how much she meant to her team.

“I only wanted to use her when I had to,” said California Coach Darcie Vincent. “I know she was feeling good at the time, but we had tomorrow. I didn’t want her feeling stiff. She probably played five minutes more than I wanted her to.”

California entered the regional as the top-seeded team with the No. 2 national ranking. Included in its run to the PSAC championship were two regular-season wins over eighth-seeded Millersville by an average margin of 23 points, but the Vulcans trailed by a point before Siembak entered the game with 13:11 remaining in the first half.

Siembak’s entrance had been preceded closely by that of 6-foot-9 center Suzie Gyarfas, and the two reserves sparked California to a 17-10 lead. But at 20-15 they were pulled and again Millersville drew close.

After the lead had been cut to 22-21, Siembak and Gyarfas re-entered the game to ignite another run and this time Millersville couldn’t close the gap.

In the PSAC title game last Sunday, Gyarfas, the left-handed Hungarian, blocked a school-record 12 shots. On Friday night, she blocked six shots, scored a game-high 18 points and grabbed seven rebounds.

“The 26 minutes she played tonight was probably the best 26 minutes she’s played this season,” Vincent said. “I think the statistics don’t always show what she does for us. The six blocks were one thing, but there were also 15 shots that she altered. And when she wasn’t in there, you could see the confidence Millersville had driving the lane.”

Considering the sluggish team effort, California needed a career game from Gyarfas. The Vulcans turned the ball over 20 times and didn’t put their opponent away until a free throw gave them a 13-point lead with 2:03 remaining.

“I thought the starting group came out extremely flat,” Vincent said. “We’re just lucky to be playing (Saturday). It wasn’t our best basketball. It wasn’t the prettiest. At least we’re alive one more day in this round of madness.”

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