CALIFORNIA, Pa. – For the second consecutive year the Bloomsburg University women's basketball team will play in the NCAA Division II Atlantic Regional Championship Game with a spot in the national Sweet 16 after pushing past Mountain East Conference member Shepherd, 85-69, on Saturday evening at Hamer Hall on the campus of California (PA) University.

The third-seeded Huskies move to 26-4 on the year while No. 7 Shepherd ends its season at 22-10. Bloomsburg will play for the regional crown Monday evening at 7 p.m. at Hamer Hall against the winner of the late game Saturday – No. 1 California, which defeated No. 5 West Liberty, 69-64. 

To advance deep into the NCAA Tournament, teams nearly always must find different ways to win. Just over 24 hours after all-conference forward Adreana Sadowski (Fleetwood/Brandywine Heights) posted 20 points and 10 rebounds while sparking Bloomsburg's second half rally past Gannon, Sadowski was forced to exit just over three minutes in after picking up her second foul. Senior guard Taylor Maldonado (Stroudsburg/Allentown Central Catholic), perhaps the team's best defender, was also lost with two fouls less than halfway through the opening period.

Instead of finding themselves in trouble, the Huskies just looked to the next players in line.

A whole cast of faces were key to Saturday's victory – Erica Maciejewski (Red Lion/Red Lion) played excellent defense, limiting Shepherd's star post player Gabby Flinchum to five first half points, and finished with a season high 10 rebounds. Sophomore Morgan Klunk (Felton/York Catholic) tallied her first career double-double behind 16 points and a career high 11 rebounds. Taylor Kaminski (Philadelphia/Archbishop Wood) played her second strong game in as many efforts, totaling seven points. Freshman Camden Boehner (Gettysburg/Gettysburg Area) posted 13 points off the bench.

"Adreana stepped up yesterday and tonight it was Erica coming off the bench and giving us really quality minutes," head coach Bill Cleary said. "She's always in the right spot defensively and she gave us a huge lift without question."

At the heart of the Huskies effort once more, though, was a very familiar face.

Senior Marla Simmons (Lebanon/Cedar Crest) again showed why she is the 2014-15 PSAC East Athlete of the Year, starring in Saturday's win with a game-high 22 points along with eight rebounds and four 3-pointers.

The early foul trouble gave Shepherd an opening and the Rams had a world of momentum following an upset of second-seeded IUP on Friday. The Rams could not take advantage, however, going just 5-of-15 at the foul line during the first half.

Bloomsburg held a 12-10 edge at the 14:17 mark, but began to take control, sparked by seven straight points from Boehner on four consecutive free throws and a 3-pointer. The Huskies dominated the rest of the way, finishing the half on a 32-11 break to open up a 44-21 lead at halftime.

Simmons powered the drive, scoring 12 points in the first 10 minutes alone.

The Huskies appeared primed to cruise into the regional final after extending its lead to 30, 65-35, with 9:44 to play.

Shepherd would not go away quietly, however, launching a 16-1 run as the Huskies went cold from the field. The Rams cut to a 66-51 score with 5:15 left following free throws from Alex Weakland.

Simmons stepped up once more to end this threat as well – her 3-ball from the right wing halted Bloomsburg's drought and put the Huskies firmly back in control.

"We knew they were going to trap and make a run. We just didn't handle that well," Cleary said of Shepherd's comeback effort. "We expect that again on Monday and we will work to be prepared."

Bloomsburg won the battle of the boards, 43-36, and shot 43.3 percent (26-of-60) to Shepherd's 34.5 percent (19-55). The Huskies finished 25-of-32 at the foul line while Shepherd was at 29-42.

Flinchum had a strong finish and finished with 20 points, the only Ram in double figures. Briana Vaden registered nine as did Morgan Arden.

"We're going back to the Sweet 16 again and we couldn't be more excited," Cleary said.

GAME NOTES: Shepherd went 2-2 in four previous games against PSAC opponents this year, losing to IUP and Cal and winning vs. Shippensburg during the regular season before upsetting IUP in the first round Friday ... It marked the third all-time meeting for the Huskies in the NCAA Tournament against an opponent from the Mountain East (previously the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference). Bloomsburg defeated Glenville State in last year's semifinals and Alderson-Broaddus in 1998 ... Bloomsburg is also 3-0 all-time vs. Shepherd, last meeting in 2002 ... Klunk had a streak of 42 consecutive made free throws snapped with a miss late in the second half. She had not missed at the line since Jan. 4 vs. California ... Bloomsburg is seeking its first regional title since 1989, its only regional championship in school history ... Bloomsburg has won more than 25 games in a season just three times – 1988-89 (28), 2013-14 (26), 2011-12 (26) ... Simmons scored 20 or more points for the seventh time this year ... The Huskies made eight 3-pointers and have 19 through the first two rounds of the tournament.