Golden Knights Gear Up for Thrilling Showdown Against California (Pa.) in New Year Women’s Basketball Clash

CALIFORNIA (PA) VULCANS (6-6, 3-3 PSAC West) facing No. 9/11 GANNON GOLDEN KNIGHTS (13-2, 5-1 PSAC West)

DATE/TIME: Saturday, January 4, 2025 | 1:00 p.m.

VENUE/LOCATION: Hagerty Family Events Center l Erie, Pa.

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LIVE VIDEO

THE GANNON-CAL (PA) MATCHUP

Gannon holds a 28-25 advantage

Gannon has secured victories in five of the last six encounters and eight of the previous ten, having swept the Vulcans in the 2023-24 season.

Last Encounter:  Feb. 3, 2024 – at Gannon 69, California (Pa.) 57 I RECAP

Sam Pirosko contributed 23 points and grabbed eight rebounds, while Bri Claxon (South Webster, Ohio/South Webster) added 22 points in Gannon’s win at the Hagerty Family Events Center. Allycia Harris led Cal with 17 points and nine rebounds.

 

MILITARY APPRECIATION/WHITEOUT DAY

As part of Gannon’s ongoing Theme Days in 2024-25, Saturday is designated as Military Appreciation/Whiteout Day. All current and past members of each military branch will receive complimentary entry to the doubleheader against California (Pa.).  

ERIE, Pa. – Gannon initiates the New Year after their last match on December 21, enduring a less-than-ideal, last-second defeat at Lock Haven in a rematch of the previous year’s PSAC Championship. The Golden Knights welcome California (Pa.) in an annual contest that is a battle for prestige in the Western Division.

 

As teams embark on divisional action on Saturday, January 4, the PSAC West is showcasing its strength at the forefront once more. Gannon arrives with a record of 13-2 overall and 5-1 in PSAC play. The Golden Knights were deemed the preseason favorites in the Western Division, hosting a Cal side predicted to finish second. The Vulcans have begun with a 6-6 record and stand at 3-3 in league play. The tipoff at the Hagerty Family Events Center is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.

 

Gannon triumphed in both of the regular season encounters last season, narrowly clinching a 62-61 victory at Cal before dealing the Vulcans a 69-57 defeat at the Hagerty Family Events Center.

 

Head coach Cleve Wright has had to assemble a roster due to injuries, which at one time sidelined three starters. Post player Andrea Maibach (Creston, Ohio/Norwayne) has now been absent for the last six games. Flexible guard Kate Ratliff (Canal Winchester, Ohio/Canal Winchester) has also missed four entire matches due to an injury sustained at Charleston (WV). Maddy Wheatley (Canberra, Australia/UCSSC Lake Ginninderra), a converted guard now positioned as a post player, managed to return after missing just one game but was still restricted to 15 minutes at Shippensburg.

 

The Golden Knights were without promising sophomore point guard Olivia Cernuto (Scottdale, Pa./Southmoreland) against Shepherd and Lock Haven. Three-point specialist Carissa Dunham (Fairview, Pa./Villa Maria) sustained an early setback in the Shepherd match and saw limited playtime.

The match against Cal signifies the final game for the Golden Knights on Cathedral Prep’s home ground. They will then visit Indiana (Pa.) and Edinboro prior to returning home to face Slippery Rock on Wednesday, January 15. This contest will take place at the newly renovated Highmark Events Center, the first since December 19, 2023.

The Knight Watch:

Record:  13-2, 5-1 PSAC West

Head Coach: Cleve Wright (17th season at Gannon, 21st overall)

• Gannon commenced the season with nine consecutive victories, reaching as high as second in the national rankings, only to face a loss at Ohio Dominican. The Golden Knights then strung together four straight wins before concluding 2024 with a 69-67 defeat against Lock Haven. The Bald Eagles secured a pair of free throws with 0.7 seconds left, leaving Gannon with a 13-2 overall record and 5-1 in PSAC competition.
• The loss to Lock Haven resulted in Gannon dropping to ninth in the newest WBCA Top 25 issued earlier this week. The Golden Knights are placed 11th in the D2CCA rankings.
• Despite facing numerous injuries, one aspect has remained consistent — robust defensive performance. Gannon concedes only 54.9 ppg., positioning them second in the PSAC and 28th nationally in Division II. Before giving up 69 points to Lock Haven, the Golden Knights had allowed 44, 52, and 44 points in their preceding three matches. They have restricted opponents to fewer than 60 points in seven games this season. Gannon ranks third in the PSAC and 22^nd nationally in field goal percentage defense at 34.5 percent.
• Bri Claxon (South Webster, Ohio/South Webster) leads the Golden Knights with an impressive 17.2 ppg., placing her sixth in the PSAC. After scoring 20 or more points in three out of her last four games, the junior guard recorded 13 points against Shepherd. In doing so, she became the 32nd Golden Knight to surpass 1,000 career points. Following her 17-point performance at Lock Haven, she now boasts 1,022 career points. Claxon is shooting an impressive 50.5 percent from the field and has converted 30 of 65 three-point attempts. She was recognized as a first-team All-PSAC West selection last season and was awarded the 2022 PSAC West Freshman of the Year.

Analyzing California (Pa.)

Record:  6-6, 3-3 PSAC West

Head Coach: Jess Strom (14th season)

Key Players: Alicia Young (G/F, 5-10, Jr., 16.3 ppg., 5.2 rpg., 17 stls., 10 blks.); Allycia Harris (F, 5-9, Sr., 10.3 ppg., 8.1 rpg., 9 blks.); Talia Gilliard (G, 5-9, Sr., 8.5 ppg., 3.2 rpg., 30 stls., 15-of-71 3’s), Sierra Bermudez (G, 5-9, Sr., 7.5 ppg., 2.0 rpg., 19-of-55 3’s)

• California (Pa.) was projected to secure second place in the PSAC West according to the preseason poll, but they have started off with a 6-6 record and are currently 3-3 in the Western Division. The Vulcans concluded 2024 with a 54-49 defeat at Kutztown on Dec. 21, which snapped a two-game winning streak.
• Head coach Jess Strom stands as the all-time winningest coach at Cal, holding a 287-93 record over 14 seasons in charge. She has led the Vulcans to 10 NCAA Tournament appearances and they have recorded nine consecutive seasons with 20 or more victories. Last year, the Vulcans finished with a 23-9 record but lost to Lock Haven in the Atlantic Regional quarterfinal.
• Cal is restricting opponents to 64.0 ppg., however, they rank 12th in the PSAC in scoring with 65.0 ppg. Their shooting percentage rests at 36.1, ranking them lowest in the conference.
• Alicia Young, a 5-foot-10 junior, leads the team with 16.3 ppg., placing her seventh in the PSAC. Allycia Harris contributes with 10.3 ppg. along with 8.1 rpg. She was celebrated as a second-team All-PSAC West honoree last season.
• Seniors Sierra Bermudez and Iyahnna Williams have achieved over 1,000 points each in their collegiate journeys after initially starting at Clarion and Alderson Broaddus, respectively.

Upcoming for the Golden Knights: Gannon will engage in consecutive away games, starting with a Wednesday, January 8 match at Indiana (Pa.). The Crimson Hawks have begun with a 10-1 record leading up to a January 3 match against Daemen.