SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – The Slippery Rock University women's basketball team will look to prevent a season sweep with a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division win at California (Pa.) 5:30 p.m. Monday.
 
BUSY SCHEDULE AHEAD
Saturday started a stretch of three games in five days for The Rock. After hosting Seton Hill University Saturday, Slippery Rock will now travel to California Monday followed by another home game against Mercyhurst University Wednesday.
 
Due to the tight turnaround, today's game preview will be an abbreviated version for tomorrow's PSAC West matchup.
 
LIVE COVERAGE
Live video and in-game statistics will be provided for Saturday's game by the California (Pa.) Sports Information office at the links below.
 
GAME 23 DETAILS
Opponent: California (Pa.)
Date: Monday – 5:30 p.m.
Location: Convocation Center – California (Pa.)
Live Video: Link
Live Stats: Link
In-game Updates: Twitter (@Rock_Athletics)
All-Time Series: Cal leads 63-40-1
Last Played: Jan. 7, 2023 (Vulcans won 63-52)
 
ALL-TIME SERIES vs. CALIFORNIA
The Vulcans hold a 63-40-1 lead over The Rock in the all-time series dating back to 1921-22. Slippery Rock will look to break a five-game losing streak against California with SRU's last win over Cal being a 72-61 victory Feb. 2, 2019 at Morrow Field House.
 
LAST MEETING
Slippery Rock was defeated, 63-52, by California Jan. 7 at Morrow Field House. SRU's efforts were led by Isabellah Middleton, who tallied a game-high 17 points in addition to compiling four rebounds and two assists. Kennedy Middleton ended the contest with 13 points, 13 rebounds, two assists and one block.
 
SLIPPERY ROCK PRIMER
Roster: Link
Stats: Link
Overall Record: 12-10
PSAC West Record: 7-9
PSAC West Standings: Eighth
Home Record: 6-4
Away Record: 5-5
Neutral Record: 1-1
Last Five Games: 3-2
Streak: W2
Acting Head Coach: Chenara Wilson | First year at SRU (12-10)
 
QUICK HITS
• Last time out: Slippery Rock suffered a narrow 63-61 loss to PSAC West opponent Seton Hill Saturday at Morrow Field House.
 
• SRU had a trio of players end the Seton Hill game in double-figures as Kennedy Middleton led the way with a solid stat line of 16 points, eight rebounds, four assists, two blocks and one steal.
 
Deleah Gibson tallied 15 points, six rebounds, four steals, two assist and one block while shooting an efficient 60 percent (6-of-10) from the floor.
 
Isabellah Middleton rounded out SRU's double-digit scorers with 13 points and a career-high 16 rebounds to go along with three steals and two assists.
 
• The Rock had a solid showing on the defensive end of the floor against the Griffins as they tallied their second 50-rebound game of the season with 51 to go along with their 13th contest of 2022-23 with at least 10 steals.
 
• Isabellah Middleton registered her eighth double-double of the season, advancing her to seventh on the list of career double-doubles at SRU since 2002-03.
 
• After a slight scoring slump in which she tallied no more than 12 points over five games, Kennedy Middleton ended Saturday's contest with 16 points in addition to being a perfect 4-of-4 from the charity stripe.
 
• Gibson has proven vital to SRU's scoring success as of late as she has averaged 19.8 points over The Rocks last five contests including three 20-point showings over that time.
 
• Bella Long has regained her momentum from long range as after seeing four consecutive games without a successful 3-point attempt, she has now made at least one in the past two contests.
 
• Freshman Alyssa Gillin has come off the bench to be a solid defensive presence with six blocks over the most recent four games for SRU.
 
• The Rock have continued their solid free throw shooting as of late as they are 78.6 percent (66-of-84) over the last five contests, up from their season average of 70.4 percent.
 
ROCK SEASON LEADERS
Points: Isabellah Middleton (356)
Points Per Game: Isabellah Middleton (16.2)
Field Goal %: Deleah Gibson (.398)
Field Goals Per Game: Isabellah Middleton (6.1)
3-Pointers: Deleah Gibson (32)
3-Point Field Goal %: Bella Long (.356)
Free Throw %: Deleah Gibson (.838)
Rebounds Per Game: Kennedy Middleton (8.6)
Offensive Rebound Per Game: Isabellah Middleton (2.2)
Defensive Rebounds Per Game: Kennedy Middleton (6.5)
Assists Per Game: Kennedy Middleton (3.4)
Steals Per Game: Deleah Gibson (2.4)
Blocks: Alyssa Gillin (9)
Minutes Per Game: Isabellah Middleton (33.9)
 
ROCK PROBABLE STARTERS
Isabellah Middleton: 16.2 ppg, 8.5 rpg, 2.1 spg, 1.4 apg
Deleah Gibson: 15.6 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 2.6 apg, 2.4 spg
Kennedy Middleton: 12.5 ppg, 8.6 rpg, 3.4 apg, 1.7 spg
Kaylin Venick: 3.1 ppg, 1.9 rpg, 0.5 spg, 0.4 apg
Jordan Kauffman: 2.9 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 0.3 spg, 0.2 apg
 
ROCK RESERVES
Bella Long: 5.2 ppg, 1.7 rpg, 0.5 apg, 0.3 spg
Jada Ward: 4.6 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 1.6 apg, 1.1 spg
Kelley McKnight: 3.4 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 0.4 apg, 0.1 spg
Alyssa Gillin: 3.1 ppg, 1.9 rpg, 0.5 spg, 0.4 apg
 
PSAC LEADERS
Rock Team Rankings
• Opponent 3-Point Percentage: 2nd (.285)
• Steals Per Game: 3rd (9.6)
• Opponent Turnovers: 4th (18.9)
• Rebounds Per Game: 4th (39.8)
• Defensive Rebounds Per Game: 6th (26.7)
• Offensive Rebounds Per Game: 6th (13.0)
• Turnover Margin: 8th (+1.4)
• 3-Pointers Per Game: 8th (6.0)
• Opponent Field Goal Percentage: 10th (.394)
• Scoring: 11th (63.8)
• Free Throw Percentage: 11th (.704)
• 3-Point Percentage: 11th (.296)
 
Rock Individual Rankings
• Defensive Rebounds Per Game: Kennedy Middleton – t-2nd (6.5)
• Steals Per Game: Deleah Gibson – 4th (2.4)
• Defensive Rebounds Per Game: Isabellah Middleton – 5th (6.3)
• Rebounds Per Game: Kennedy Middleton – 6th (8.7)
• Points Per Game: Isabellah Middleton – 6th (16.2)
• Rebounds Per Game: Isabellah Middleton – 7th (8.6)
• Free Throw Percentage: Deleah Gibson – 7th (.838)
• Assists Per Game: Kennedy Middleton – 8th (3.4)
• Points Per Game: Deleah Gibson – 9th (15.6)
• Steals Per Game: Isabellah Middleton – t-9th (2.1)
 
CALIFORNIA PRIMER
Roster: Link
Stats: Link
Overall Record: 14-8
PSAC West Record: 10-6
PSAC West Standings: Fourth
Home Record: 8-1
Away Record: 5-7
Neutral Record: 1-0
Last Five Games: 4-1
Streak: L1
Head Coach: Jess Strom | 11th year at Cal (251-75)
 
SCOUTING THE VULCANS
Last time out: California had its four-game winning streak snapped in an 83-77 divisional loss at Edinboro Saturday.
 
CALIFORNIA SEASON LEADERS
Points: Rajah Fink (331)
Points Per Game: Rajah Fink (15.0)
Field Goal %: Rajah Fink (.496)
Field Goals Per Game: Rajah Fink (6.0)
3-Pointers: Halle Herrington (53)
3-Point Field Goal %: Halle Herrington (.368)
Free Throw %: Halle Herrington (.843)
Rebounds Per Game: Rajah Fink (10.5)
Offensive Rebound Per Game: Rajah Fink (3.9)
Defensive Rebounds Per Game: Rajah Fink (6.7)
Assists Per Game: Ciaira Loyd (6.9)
Steals Per Game: Ciaira Loyd (2.2)
Blocks: Allycia Harris (25)
Minutes Per Game: Halle Herrington (38.7)
 
PSAC LEADERS
Vulcan Team Rankings
Turnover Margin: 4th (+3.45)
Steals Per Game: 5th (9.1)
Rebounds Per Game: 5th (39.6)
Offensive Rebounds Per Game: 5th (13.4)
Assists/Turnover Ratio: 6th (.084)
Opponent Field Goal Percentage: 6th (.387)
Rebounding Margin: 7th (+3.2)
Defensive Rebounds Per Game: 8th (26.2)
Field Goal Percentage: 8th (.409)
Scoring: 9th (67.7)
Scoring Margin: 9th (5.4)
 
Vulcan Individual Rankings
Rebounds Per Game: Rajah Fink – 1st (10.5)
Defensive Rebounds Per Game: Rajah Fink – 1st (6.7)
Assists Per Game: Ciaira Loyd – 2nd (6.9)
Offensive Rebounds Per Game: Rajah Fink – 2nd (3.9)
Offensive Rebounds Per Game: Allycia Harris – 3rd (3.6)
3-Pointers Per Game: Halle Herrington – 3rd (2.4)
Free Throw Percentage: Halle Herrington – 4th (.843)
Field Goal Percentage: Rajah Fink – 5th (.496)
3-Point Field Goal Percentage: Halle Herrington – 5th (.368)
Blocks Per Game: Allycia Harris – 7th (1.1)
Steals Per Game: Ciaira Loyd – 7th (2.2)
 
CALIFORNIA PROBABLE STARTERS
Rajah Fink: 15.0 ppg, 10.5 rpg, 1.6 apg, 1.5 spg
Ciaira Loyd: 13.6 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 6.9 apg, 2.2 spg
Halle Herrington: 13.1 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 1.5 apg, 1.3 spg
Allycia Harris: 10.2 ppg, 7.7 rpg, 1.5 spg, 1.1 bpg
Jordan Smith: 7.5 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 1.5 apg, 1.4 spg
 
UP NEXT
SRU finishes out its three games in five days stretch when it returns home to host Mercyhurst University 5:30 p.m. Wednesday at Morrow Field House for its Breast Cancer Awareness game. Earlier this season The Rock defeated the Lakers 60-58 on the road in Erie, Pennsylvania.







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