BLOOMSBURG (1-7, 0-5 PSAC East) vs #2 CALIFORNIA (PA) (10-0, 5-0 PSAC West)
Sunday, December 18, 2016 - 1:00 p.m.
Bloomsburg, Pa. | Nelson Field House

GAME NOTES:
Bloomsburg vs California (PA) Game Notes

GAME COVERAGE:
Live Stats: http://www.sidearmstats.com/bloomu/wbball/
Live Audio (WHLM-AM): http://www.whlmam.com

RELATED LINKS:
Bloomsburg - Roster | Schedule | Statistics
California (PA) - Roster | Schedule | Statistics

LAST TIME OUT ...
Bloomsburg fell to 1-7 overall and 0-5 in the PSAC Eastern Division after a 74-53 loss at Clarion University last Saturday. The Huskies jumped out to a 21-18 lead after the opening quarter thanks to 10-of-15 (66.7%) shooting over the first ten minutes. However, Bloomsburg was held to just 32 points on 14-of-44 (31.8%) over the final three quarters. The Golden Eagles outscored the Huskies, 22-9, in the second quarter which proved to be the turning point of the contest. Senior Morgan Klunk (Felton, Pa./York Catholic) paced the Huskies with 15 points while senior Alex Ross (Lancaster, Pa./Manheim Township) posted her first double-double of the season with 10 points, 12 rebounds, and five assists. Clarion was led by Tyra Polite who finished with 17 points. Bloomsburg turned the ball over 20 times which led to 20 Clarion points. The Huskies, meanwhile, were only able to turn nine Clarion miscues into just two points.

STARTING FIVE ...
1 - Points have been tough to come by through the first eight games of the season. Bloomsburg is 17th in the PSAC, and lower than 300th in the country, in points per game (53.9). The Huskies have been held to under 60 points six times this season - they scored 61 against Georgian Court in their only win of the season and then scored 63 (seven in overtime) in a loss at Gannon.

2 - Defensively, Bloomsburg has been quite good. The Huskies are ranked seventh in the conference in scoring defense (61.8) and have limited opponents to under 70 points in a game six times. Bloomsburg is also third in the PSAC in opponents' field goal percentage (37.2%), sixth in the league in opponents' three-point shooting (27.9%), and second in the conference in blocked shots per game (5.1). In fact, the Huskies are 22nd in the country in blocks per contest.

3 - Senior Morgan Klunk (Felton, Pa./York Catholic) is tops on the team in nearly every statistical category through eight games this season. She leads the team in scoring (11.0), assists (2.9), and steals (2.0). She is one rebound behind senior Alex Ross (Lancaster, Pa./Manheim Township) (6.1) from being the team leader in that department as well (6.0). Klunk has moved into 13th place on the school's all-time list for career assists with 246. She needs 11 helpers to tie Kayla Oxenrider (2009-13) for 12th on the list. Klunk also needs 165 points to reach the 1,000-point milestone for her career.

4 - The Huskies have a very young roster that features only two seniors - Morgan Klunk (Felton, Pa./York Catholic) and Alex Ross (Lancaster, Pa./Manheim Township) - and no juniors. The rest of the 12-player roster is comprised of five sophomores, one redshirt freshman, and four true freshmen. One of the sophomores, Allie Barber (Pittston Township, Pa./Pittston Area), joins the team for the first time this season. Barber was an All-PSAC Second Team selection and an NSCAA (National Soccer Coaches Association of America) All-Atlantic Region Third Team honoree for the Huskies' women's soccer team this fall.

5 - Bloomsburg started the season with a number of injuries but is starting to get some players which should help the team develop a rotation. Due to the injuries, the Huskies have three players - senior Morgan Klunk (Felton, Pa./York Catholic), senior Alex Ross (Lancaster, Pa./Manheim Township), and sophomore Alyssa Mack (Walnutport, Pa./Allentown Central Catholic) - ranked among the top 20 in the conference in minutes played. Three weekends ago, sophomore Taylor Sneidman (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Cumberland Valley) returned to the Huskies' lineup while two weekends ago, redshirt freshman Leah Myers (York, Pa./Eastern York) made her Huskies' debut. Bloomsburg is still waiting on freshman Ciara Forde (Glenmoore, Pa./Bishop Shanahan) to join the lineup. Freshman Lauren Oeth (Doylestown, Pa./Germantown Academy) will be making her debut next season as she is redshirting this year.

THE SERIES ...
California (PA) leads the all-time series over the Huskies, 14-9.

LAST MEETING AGAINST CALIFORNIA (PA) ...
The teams last met on November 22, 2015 with the then-#5 Vulcans defeating the Huskies, 80-65, in California. The Vulcans led by two after the opening quarter, 21-19, but then limited the Huskies to only 13 points in the second quarter as they took a 42-32 lead into the locker room at halftime. The Huskies cut the lead to nine at the end of three quarters but were outscored, 21-15, in the fourth as the Vulcans pulled away for the 15-point victory. Mia Hopkins (Pittston/Pittston Area) posted a double-double for Bloomsburg, scoring 16 points and grabbing 13 rebounds while adding four assists and four steals. Morgan Klunk (Felton, Pa./York Catholic) added 16 points in a losing effort. Adreana Sadowski (Fleetwood/Brandywine Heights) (14) and Alyssa Mack (Walnutport, Pa./Allentown Central Catholic) (11) were also in double figures. Seairra Barrett led California with a game-high 23 points on 9-of-12 shooting. Miki Glenn added 16 points, five rebounds, and seven assists. Precious Martin (16) and Paige Wright (11) also hit double digits.
 
SCOUTING THE VULCANS ...
California (PA) enters the contest with a perfect 10-0 record and a 5-0 mark in the PSAC West. The Vulcans are the top-ranked team in the latest D2SIDA Atlantic Region poll and are ranked second in the country in both the D2SIDA Media Poll and the WBCA Division II Coaches' Poll - their highest-ranking since 2009. The Vulcans are one of 12 undefeated teams remaining in the country behind a scoring offense that ranks seventh in the nation at 84.9 points per game. Seairra Barrett leads the team in scoring (19.1) and rebounding (6.4). She is second in the PSAC in points per game. Miki Glenn is the reigning PSAC West Player of the Year and was a WBCA All-American last season. She is second on the team (third in the PSAC) in scoring (17.7) while leading the PSAC in both assists (7.4) and steals (3.1). Lana Doran redshirted a year ago but is back and is third on the team in scoring (11.2). Shatara Parsons (11.0) is also in double figures in scoring.

LOW SCORING ...
Bloomsburg comes into the contest having scored more than 60 points in a game only twice this season (61 at Georgian Court on November 26 and 63 at Gannon on December 4) and is averaging only 53.9 points per game - 17th in the PSAC and lower than 300th in the country. The Huskies average more points than only Cheyney in the PSAC. The Huskies have shot better than 40% in a game three times this season and are 13th in the PSAC at 38.9% on the year. However, the Huskies' defense has allowed only 70 or more points in a game twice and allow only 61.8 points per game to their opponents. That figure is the seventh-best in the PSAC.

BLOCK PARTY ...
Through eight games this season, the Huskies are second in the conference, and 22nd in the country, in blocked shots per game (5.1). Bloomsburg has blocked 41 shots though eight games. The Huskies have blocked at least four shots in six of the eight games and have blocked ten shots in a game twice - against Chestnut Hill on November 22 and at Philadelphia on November 27. Freshman Taylor Montana (Berwick, Pa./Berwick) is tied for fourth in the PSAC in blocks per game (1.5) while senior Alex Ross (Lancaster, Pa./Manheim Township) is tied for sixth in the league (1.4). Freshman Meghan Corridoni (Exeter, Pa./Holy Redeemer) is tied for 15th as she averages one blocked shot per contest.

STRUGGLING FROM DEEP ...
Bloomsburg enters the game having made only 28 three-pointers in eight games this season (3.5 per game) and 16th in the PSAC in three-point shooting percentage (23.7%). Sophomore Alyssa Mack (Walnutport, Pa./Allentown Central Catholic) has accounted for 12 of the team's 28 three-pointers while sophomore Marissa Molnar (Erie, Pa./McDowell) is second with seven. The duo has combined to shoot 19-of-66 from deep (28.8%) while the rest of the team is 9-of-52 (17.3%). California (PA), Sunday's opponent, is second-to-last in the PSAC in three-pointers per game (2.5) but is tied for fourth in the league in percentage (33.3%).

SENIOR LEADERSHIP ...
With only two seniors and no juniors entering the season, a lot of focus has been on the lone upperclassmen - Morgan Klunk (Felton, Pa./York Catholic) and Alex Ross (Lancaster, Pa./Manheim Township). Klunk has been a mainstay on the floor as she leads the team in minutes played per game (33.8). She is tops on the team in scoring (11.0), assists (2.9), and steals (2.0) while ranking second on the team in rebounding (6.0). She also posted her first double-double of the season, and fourth of her career, with 20 points and 12 rebounds in the Huskies' 61-41 win at Georgian Court on November 26. Klunk has moved into 13th place on the school's all-time career assists list with 246 and she needs 165 points to reach the 1,000-career point milestone. Ross, meanwhile, has also done some of everything for the Huskies as she is third on the team in scoring (8.0), first in rebounding (6.1), tied for second in assists (2.6), second in blocks (1.4), and second in steals (1.4). Ross is nine blocks shy of moving into the top 15 on the school's list for career blocked shots. She also posted her first double-double of the season in the loss at Clarion last Saturday.

NO SOPHOMORE SLUMP ...
Three sophomores that saw decent playing time last season have stepped up their roles through the first eight games this year. Alyssa Mack (Walnutport, Pa./Allentown Central Catholic), who averaged 7.1 points per game last season, is up to 10.3 points per game this season, which is second on the team. She is also tied for second in assists (2.6) and leads the team in three-pointers (12). Casey Warley (West Chester, Pa./Bayard Rustin) has started seven games this season and, after averaging only 1.3 points and 0.9 rebounds a year ago, is up to 5.0 points and 2.8 boards this season. She is averaging 6.8 points over her last five games. Finally, Marissa Molnar (Erie, Pa./McDowell) has also increased from 1.8 points and 0.8 rebounds to 3.6 and 2.1, respectively, this season. She tied a career-high with 11 points, and grabbed a career-best five rebounds, at Mercyhurst on December 3. She is second on the team with seven three-pointers.

HUSKIES FOR HIE ...
The women's basketball team held a benefit during its season opener against Pitt-Johnstown for three-year-old Luke Antolick who has been diagnosed with Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE). Luke's parents, Lance and Alyson, grew up with BU head coach Alison Tagliaferri while Alyson, the former Alyson Taylor, played softball at Bloomsburg from 2003-06. The benefit, which is still going on through a GoFundMe page, has raised more than $1,000 for the Antolick family to help with medical expenses. For more information or to donate, visit https://www.gofundme.com/luke-antolick-benefit-fund.

A LOOK AT THE EXHIBITIONS ...
The Huskies played exhibition contests against two Division I schools prior to the start of the regular season. Bloomsburg dropped an 85-41 decision at Penn State on October 30. Freshman Meghan Corridoni (Exeter, Pa./Holy Redeemer) scored nine points to lead the Huskies. Then, on November 4, the Huskies dropped a 65-45 decision at Buffalo. Sophomore Alyssa Mack (Walnutport, Pa./Allentown Central Catholic) led the way with 14 points while senior Morgan Klunk (Felton, Pa./York Catholic) added 13 points and a team-high nine boards. After falling behind 39-17 at halftime, the Huskies outscored the Bulls, 28-26, in the second half.

TAG, YOU'RE IT ...
Alison Tagliaferri takes over the reins as the head coach after serving four seasons as the head coach at Mansfield. Tagliaferri replaces Bill Cleary who, after eight seasons, departed for Division I Colgate University. Cleary went 164-69 in his eight seasons with the Huskies and posted a 97-42 record against PSAC opponents. Tagliaferri is certainly no stranger to the PSAC East. Prior to her four-year coaching stint at her alma mater, Tagliaferri was a force on the floor for the Mountaineers from 2002-06. She departed as the program's all-time leading scorer with 1,795 points and also ranks first in Mansfield's record books in career blocks (130) and free throws made (457) while ranking fourth in rebounds (852). During her senior season, she was named the PSAC East Player of the Year to become the first Mansfield women's athlete ever to earn the distinction. In 2011, Tagliaferri was inducted into both the Mansfield University Athletic/Alumni Hall of Fame as well as the West Branch Hall of Fame.

UP NEXT ...
Bloomsburg will return to action on Friday, December 30 when it travels to West Chester for its first divisional contest of the season. Tip-off is set for 5:30 p.m. The Huskies lead the all-time series, 38-35.