Johnson dreaming Final Four

Lindsay Johnson, a 5-foot-11 senior guard for the California (Pa.) University women’s basketball team from Springfield High and New Springfield, is getting her last chance to play in the NCAA Division II Final Four this year for the first time in her career.

California (29-4) will play NCAA East champion Franklin Pierce (N.H.) on Tuesday at 7 p.m. in the Elite Eight at the Greehey Arena on the campus of St. Mary’s University in San Antonio, Tex., for a berth in the Final Four.

Johnson and the Vulcans, ranked No. 6 in the nation, advanced to the Elite Eight for the fourth time in school history with a 64-40 win over Gannon on Monday at Hamer Hall, to win their second straight Atlantic Regional tournament championship.

Franklin Pierce (26-2) advanced to the Elite Eight with a 78-54 victory over Stonehill (Mass.) in the East Region championship game.

Johnson, a second-team All-Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference West selection who has scored more than 1,000 career points, has been a factor in all three of California’s postseason NCAA wins this year.

California had gained the regional final with an 87-48 win over the University of Charleston (W.Va.) last Saturday at Hamer Hall. The day before, the Vulcans opened regional play with a 73-55 win over the University of the District of Columbia.

Johnson had 10 points, eight rebounds and two assists in the win over Gannon, scored 14 points to co-lead the win over Charleston, and had 11 points and four assists to aid the victory over the District of Columbia.

Johnson leads the team in 3-point goals with 54-for-146 (37.0 percent) and is averaging 12.4 points and 5.4 rebounds.

California was an at-large selection to the 2009 NCAA tournament to tie a PSAC record with eight consecutive NCAA appearances (2002-09).

California holds a 2-1 all-time record in the Elite Eight, advancing to the Final Four in both 2003 and 2004.

The Vulcans are led by 5-8 junior guard Brooque Williams from Pittsburgh Perry, the PSAC West co-player of the year. Williams leads the team in goals (296-for-583 50.8 percent), scoring (22.1), rebounding (10.5) and steals (120).

Meanwhile, Emily Hays capped her playing career for the Washington & Jefferson College women’s basketball team with an array of accomplishments and honors while leading the Presidents to a historic season.

Hays, a 6-0 senior forward from Boardman High who led the Presidents to the most wins in school history (24), was named the 2009 Presidents’ Athletic Conference player of the year, and to the D3hoops.com All-Great Lakes Region First Team.

The durable Hays started all 29 games this season to set the school record for most career games played with 111 since her freshman year. She also capped her career with 78 starts.

Hays also became W&J’s No. 8 career scorer with 1,147 points, after scoring a team-high 461 points this season which rank No. 5 in school history. Her 15.5-point scoring average this year was second-best in the PAC while her 52.4 percent field goal percentage ranked No. 5.

An accurate shooter, Hays made 51 percent (455-of-896) of her goal attempts for her career, and 61 percent (237-of-388) of her free throws.

XJohn Kovach covers college sports for The Vindicator. Write to him at kovach@vindy.com.