Purdue Calumet Takes on No. 6 Cardinal Stritch in Frirday CCAC Semifinals

PUC-PeregrinsThe No. 21 Purdue University Calumet women's basketball team will continue its bid for its second-straight Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference Tournament championship when the Peregrines take on No. 6 Cardinal Stritch Friday night in the CCAC semifinals.

The South No. 1 seed Peregrines (21-7) will take on the North No. 2 seed Wolves (25-4) starting at 8 p.m. in the Shannon Center at top-seed host Saint Xavier University in Chicago. The host Wolves (27-2) will face Saint Francis (17-14) in the night's first contest at 6 p.m.

The winners of each semifinal will advance to the CCAC Finals on Saturday at St. Xavier at 1 p.m.

WHAT'S ON TAP
The No. 21 Purdue University Calumet women’s basketball team will look to avenge a loss earlier in the season against No. 6 Cardinal Stritch when the Peregrines take on the Wolves in the semifinals of the CCAC Tournament Friday night. In 2013-14, the Peregrines won the CCAC regular season and postseason tournament en route to their first ever NAIA Tournament victory over Oregon Tech and a spot in the Sweet Sixteen.

LAST TIME OUT
The Peregrines advanced to the CCAC Semifinals after defeating Trinity Christian College, 57-48 Wednesday night. Junior Jada Buggs led the way against the Trolls with 19 points on 9 of 14 shooting and junior Patrice McBee added her 16th double-double of the season with 10 points and 10 rebounds.

SCOUTING THE WOLVES
Cardinal Stritch is coming off a 94-64 victory over Olivet Nazarene in the quarterfinals of the CCAC Tournament Wednesday evening. Senior Michelle Piepenburg led the way with 20 points, senior Brianna Hawthrone had 14 points, junior Mika Passini had 14 points and senior Becky Gilbreath added 12 points in the victory. Piepenburg leads the way for the Wolves with 14.1 ppg.

SERIES HISTORY
Cardinal Stritch leads the all-time series over the Peregrines, 20-2, including win in the last 13 meetings. The Wolves won the two teams’ lone matchup earlier this season, 65-48, Jan. 24 at the Fitness and Recreation Center. Cassidy Deno led the Peregrines with 11 points and Darien Thompson added 10 points in a tale of two halves, as Purdue Calumet led by two at the half, 25-23, before the Wolves held the Peregrines to just 23 second-half points and forced them into 19 total turnovers. The Peregrines’ last win over Stritch came during the 2008-09 season, when current assistant coach Stephanie Beck scored 20 points in a 80-72 win at the FNRC Feb. 18, 2009.

LIVE LOOK
Live stats and video will be provided courtesy of St. Xavier at http://portal.stretchinternet.com/sxu/

CCAC TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE/RESULTS

Monday, February 23, 2015
Game #1: Trinity Christian 57, Judson 52
Game #2: Indiana South Bend 79, Calumet St. Joseph 62

Wednesday, February 25, 2015
Game #3: Purdue Calumet 57, Trinity Christian 48
Game #4: Cardinal Stritch 94, Olivet Nazarene 64
Game #5: Saint Xavier 80, Indiana South Bend 68
Game #6: St. Francis 84, Robert Morris 82

Friday, February 27, 2015 (at Saint Xavier)
Game #7: St. Francis vs. St. Xavier - 6 p.m.
Game #8: Cardinal Stritch vs. Purdue Calumet - 8 p.m.

Saturday, February 28, 2015 (at Saint Xavier)
Game #9: Winner-Game #7 vs. Winner-Game #8 - 1 p.m.