Feb. 11, 2010

Box Score

CLARION - The Lizzie Suwala show continues. The senior recorded her fourth straight game of 28 points or more by netting a career-high 31 points to help the Clarion University women's basketball team upset No. 23 California 93-83 Thursday night at Clarion's Tippin Gym.

Clarion (12-10 overall, 3-6 PSAC-West) built an 18-point lead, 80-62, with five minutes to play and then had to hold off a frantic California (16-6, 6-3) rally to secure the victory.

"We left it all on the floor," Clarion head coach Gie Parsons said. "We played with heart. That was our best basketball today."

The Vulcans cut Clarion's lead to two, 85-83, with a 21-5 run that ended on two Brooque Williams free throws with 1:10 to play. But Rachel Graeff hit a jumper with 45 seconds left, and Suwala hit two free throws with 35 seconds to play to restore the lead to six points. Suwala's two charity shots were part of a game-ending 6 of 6 performance from the line for the Golden Eagles that allowed them to hold onto the lead. The victory keeps the Golden Eagles in the hunt for a PSAC playoff berth. Clarion is two games back of Edinboro with five to play including a game at Edinboro Feb. 27 in the regular-season finale.

"This puts us back in the hunt," Parsons said.

Suwala, who had three consecutive 28-point games coming into Thursday, was a big reason why Clarion was able to upset California. The senior hit on 11 of 18 shots from the field including 3 of 5 3-pointers and added a perfect 6 of 6 from the free-throw line. She had 16 points in the first half helping Clarion build a 52-32 halftime lead and then added 15 more in the second 20 minutes. She also added seven rebounds, five assists, three steals and a blocked shot.

The Golden Eagles also got 21 points, six rebounds, two assists, two blocks and three steals from Bethany Koch and 19 points, eight assists and six rebounds from Rachel Graeff. Sara Pratt and Janelle Zabresky each added 10 points with Zabresky completing a double-double with 12 rebounds while also adding four assists, four blocks and two steals. Pratt chipped in with six boards, three helpers, a block and a steal.

Kayla Smith led Cal with 22 points, 13 rebounds, five assists, three blocks and three steals. Williams added 21 points, seven rebounds, four assists, four steals and a block with Stephanie Michael chipping in 19 points.

Cal used an 11-0 run at the start of the second half to cut Clarion's 20-point halftime lead to nine points but the Golden Eagles were able to hold the lead between seven and 12 points before using 14-5 run to regain the 18-point lead on a free throw by Zabresky with exactly five minutes left.

Clarion returns to action at 1 p.m. Saturday at Gannon while Cal is at Lock Haven at 1 p.m. Saturday.

NOTES - Suwala is the first Clarion women's player to have four straight games of 25 or more points. In fact, no other player has scored 25 or more in more than two consecutive games. Her previous career high was 28 points.