PUNXSY GRAD HEBERLING NAMED PSAC TOURNAMENT MVP

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IUP rallies to beat California for second straight PSAC Crown

INDIANA – Behind tournament MVP and Punxsutawney graduate Staci Heberling, the IUP women’s basketball team won its second straight PSAC basketball title with a 67-63 win over California Saturday night at IUP’s Memorial Field House.

Heberling, a junior, scored 17 points, pulled down nine rebounds, dished out four assists, made four steals and blocked two shots while going 5 of 6 from the field and 7 of 7 from the free-throw line. Her two free throws with 29 seconds left gave IUP a 65-63 lead, the first time the Crimson Hawks were ahead since holding a 42-40 edge with 16:22 left in the game.

IUP (27-4) trailed 62-53 with 7:04 left to play but outscored the Vulcans (24-6) 14-1 down the stretch. Cal didn’t hit a field goal in the game’s final 9:25.   

After Heberling’s free throws gave IUP the lead, Cal’s Brooque Williams, who led all scorers with 19 points, stepped out of bounds while driving the baseline with 11.6 seconds remaining giving the ball back to IUP.

Williams then fouled Kierstin Filla five seconds later, and Filla drained both free throws to put the game away.

Jahzinga Tracey added 16 points for IUP, while Kylie Miller had 11 and Filla 10 to go with five assists.

Amber Dubyak added 15 points and Crystal Andrews 14 points and six assists for Cal, which was making its eighth straight appearance in the PSAC title game going 4-4 in those games.

With the victory, IUP earns the automatic bid from the PSAC to the NCAA Division II Tournament and will likely be named the host of the East Region Tournament when sites and pairings are announced Sunday night.  

NOTES – Heberling also started the 14-1 run for IUP by hitting two free throws … The 27 wins are a school record for IUP ... Heberling was the D9Sports.com Girls' Basketball Player of the Year in 2004 and 2005 ... Another D9 graduate, Union's Tiffany Corle, who was the All American Awards & Engraving D9Sports.com Girls' Basketball Player of the Year last season, is also a member of IUP's team. Corle played four minutes in the title game and didn't score.