Cal women rally to knock off IUP
INDIANA – Senior forward Dejah Terrell scored a game-high 25 points and sparked a late-game comeback as California rallied to beat Indiana 57-54 in the PSAC women’s basketball tournament quarterfinals Wednesday night at the Kovalchick Center.
It was the ninth consecutive win for Cal (23-7). The Vulcans will play in the PSAC semifinals Saturday (3:30 p.m.) at Lock Haven. Gannon will play West Chester in the other semifinal.
California ended the game on a 13-2 run over the final 5:33 to erase an eight-point fourth-quarter deficit.
IUP (21-7), which was the No. 2 seed in the West Division, led 52-44 with six minutes remaining.
Third-seeded Cal started its comeback when Terrell and Iyahnna Williams made layups that cut the IUP lead to 53-48 with 4:39 to play.
A jump shot by Terrell and a basket by Sierra Bermudez tied the score at 52-52 with 2:08 left.
IUP’s final points, a basket by Grace Centrulla, put the Crimson Hawks back on top at 54-52 before Terrell delivered her biggest shot of the game. Terrell made a three-point field goal that moved Cal ahead 55-54 with 1:27 remaining.
After IUP missed a three-pointer in the final minute, Terrell made a drive to the basket with the shot clock running down. She was able to get a pass across the lane to teammate Allycia Harris, who was under the basket. Harris made a shot as she was fouled, giving the Vulcans a 57-54 lead with 10 seconds to play.
Harris missed the ensuing free throw but IUP misfired on two shots in the closing seconds.
Harris finished with 12 points for Cal, the defending PSAC champion.
Maria Cerro and Nyshae Weaver each scored 14 points for IUP. Weaver had seven points in the third quarter, helping the Crimson Hawks turn a 27-26 halftime deficit into a 45-40 lead entering the fourth quarter. Cal made only four of its first 17 shots in the second half.