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Imani Brown Action5
Bob Shank
Senior guard Imani Brown

Warriors Fall 78-69 to No. 4 California; Brown Scores Career-High 31

12/3/2017 12:00:00 AM

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EAST STROUDSBURG – Senior guard Imani Brown netted a career-high 31 points, becoming the first East Stroudsburg University player to score 30+ in a game since 2010, but it was not enough as No. 4 California handed the Warriors a 78-69 setback at Koehler Fieldhouse on Sunday.

PSAC scoring leader Shatara Parsons poured in 33 points on 13 of 17 shooting for the nationally-ranked Vulcans (7-1, 4-0 PSAC), while Mia Cushon added 17 points and nine rebounds. California hit 53.8 percent of its shots from the floor overall (28-52) and had a 50-28 advantage on points in the paint.

Brown's 31 points surpassed her previous career best of 29, which was established in a win at West Chester last February. She hit 11 of 28 field goal attempts and 7 of 12 free throws. Brown, who also grabbed a team-high nine rebounds, is averaging 21.6 points per game on the year. She has scored 20+ points in 6 of 8 contests overall.

Sophomore guard Tiffany Lapotsky added 19 points on 7 of 13 shooting for the Warriors (5-3, 3-1 PSAC), who suffered their first conference defeat of the season. Sophomore guard Jordan Hertz chipped in eight points, five assists and a season high five steals.

Parsons scored eight of her 33 points during a 12-2 run for California to begin the game, and the Vulcans extended that advantage to 24-8 by the end of the first quarter.

ESU outscored the visitors in each of the final three quarters, but was never able to come all the way back from its early deficit. Trailing 40-26 at the intermission, a 3-pointer by Brown and a layup by Lapotsky to begin the third reduced the margin down to single digits.

The Warriors would get as close as seven points at 45-38 following another Brown long ball with 5:55 to go in the third. California responded with a 6-0 run of its own and maintained a double-digit lead until the final two minutes of regulation.

The two teams combined for 53 fouls and 57 free throw attempts in a whistle-filled affair. There were also 42 turnovers (California 22, ESU 20) which were aided by a combined total of 20 steals.

Brown is the first ESU player to score 30+ points since DeAnna Rayam had 32 against Kutztown on Feb. 15, 2010. She is also the first Warrior to play all 40 minutes in a game since Melissa Poderis in January, 2016. Brown is now only 104 points away from becoming the 16th ESU player to reach 1,000 for her collegiate career.

Parsons added eight rebounds and a game-high four blocks for the visitors. She is averaging a PSAC-high 24.6 points per game through California's first eight contests.

ESU hosts another PSAC West opponent next Saturday, with Gannon heading to Koehler Fieldhouse for a contest scheduled to begin at 1 p.m.
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