SLIPPERY ROCK — Get those California (Pa.) University shirts and banners out.

The Vulcans suddenly have a whole new batch of fans — and unlikely ones at that.

Members of the Slippery Rock University women's basketball team are the newest supporters of former coach Darcie Vincent and her Vulcans following a 56-52 loss to Indiana (Pa.) University at Morrow Field House Wednesday night.

The loss means The Rock needs Cal to knock off Lock Haven Saturday to squeak into the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference-West playoffs.

"It's out of our hands," said SRU coach Laurel Heilman. "We're going to say some prayers and become the biggest Cal fans we've ever been."

"This is about the only time we will ever been rooting for Cal," said senior point guard Amber McFeely.

They are forced into that uncomfortable position because of a slow start against Indiana and a rally that simply ran out of time.

The Rock (13-14, 5-7) trailed 42-25 early in the second half, but slowly and methodically chipped away at the IUP lead.

McFeely converted a 3-point play to cut the lead to 50-47 with 1:40 remaining in the game. The Rock closed to two points at 54-52 with four second remaining, but Lizzie Suwala sank two free throws with 2.7 seconds remaining to clinch the victory.

"Too little, too late, as they say," Heilman said. "The clock was our enemy. Obviously, I couldn't be more proud of the effort and the battle. We just ran out of time. We just started a little too late."

Heilman used 12 players in the game. It was five bench players who helped The Rock climb back into the game.

Heilman went with Dana Stewart, Amanda Nero, Cathy Lee Peffer, KellyAnn Staudinger and Stephanie Schwartz during a key four-minute stretch in the second half.

The group turned up the defensive intensity and held IUP scoreless.

Unfortunately for SRU, it wasn't able to score enough during that span.

"The second group that went in, to us, were playing harder," Heilman said. "The problem with that group that was in is they aren't scorers."

Rebounding was a huge problem for Slippery Rock.

IUP grabbed 49 rebounds, including 20 on the offensive glass. SRU managed just 30 rebounds and only two offensive boards.

McFeely, one of four seniors playing in their final game at Morrow Field House, led The Rock with 11 points.

McFeely, a Grove City High School graduate, hopes it wasn't her last game, period.

"I'm not looking at this as my last game," McFeely said.

It may be if Cal, which already as the No. 1 seed wrapped up, decides to rest key players in the finale against Lock Haven.

That's the danger of putting your fate in another's hands, McFeely said.

"That's no one's fault but ours," McFeely said. "(Cal) has nothing to prove, but I know their coach, and she hates losing in general."

So does McFeely, who went to the playoffs in all four of her seasons with Grove City.

She has yet to reach the postseason as a member of The Rock.

If Wednesday was her last game, McFeely certainly has left her mark on SRU.

She will leave as the all-time career leader in assists. She also holds the single-season record.

"I definitely achieved more than I thought I would ever achieve," she said. "Breaking both assists records has been an amazing experience and more than I ever hoped for."

Dejan Jancic scored 14 points and added 15 rebounds on senior night, Slippery Rock University closed the season with a 82-72 loss to Indiana (Pa.) University (17-8) Wednesday night.Jancic, the only senior on The Rock roster, closed his career in style.Unfortunately, it wasn't enough to add some light on an otherwise dark Slippery Rock season.Jamar Scales led SRU (2-24) with 18 points.The Rock trailed by just one point at the half, but sputtered in the second half. SRU committed 22 turnovers in the game.The Rock did outrebound IUP 46-32 thanks to Jancic's effort.Women's BoxIUP (56)Lauren Fisher 1-6 3-4 5, Mame Brumbaugh 1-7 0-0 2, Staci Heberling 1-6 3-4 5, Kara Taylor 2-8 0-1 5, Jahzinga Tracey 5-13 3-3 13, Kylie Miller 0-5 2-4 2, Siarra Cornelius 3-5 0-0 7, Lizzie Suwala 2-6 5-6 10, Katie Glaws 2-5 0-0 5, Julie Gallo 1-3 0-0 2. Totals: 18-64 16-22 56.SLIPPERY ROCK (52)Amber McFeely 3-7 5-5 11, Amanda Chojnacki 3-5 2-4 8, Kristen Bonner 1-7 3-4 5, Jess Caso 0-0 0-0 0, Cathy Lee Peffer 2-4 0-0 5, Angela Greaser 4-6 0-1 9, Amanda Nero 1-5 0-0 2, Dana Stewart 0-2 0-0 0, Jessica Schake 3-7 0-0 6, Amanda Kaufman 0-0 0-0 0, KellyAnn Staudinger 1-3 2-2 4, Stephanie Schwartz 1-1 0-0 2. Totals: 19-47 12-16 52.Halftime — IUP, 35-21. 3-point goals — IUP 4-13 (Fisher 0-2, Brumbaugh 0-2, Taylor 1-1, Miller 0-2, Cornelius 1-1, Suwala 1-3, Glaws 1-2), SRU 2-13 (McFeely 0-3, Bonner 0-5, Peffer 1-3, Greaser 1-1, Nero 0-1). Rebounds — IUP 49 (Heberling, Tracey, Suwala 7), SRU 30 (Chojnacki 6). Assists — IUP 7 (Tracey, Miller 2), SRU 10 (McFeely 3). Total fouls — IUP 19, SRU 14. Fouled out — none; Technical fouls — none.Men's BoxIUP (82)Lawrence Baker 12-20 1-3 27, Marc Williams 3-14 3-5 9, Justin Gartner 1-2 0-0 3, Eddie Peterson 10-21 5-6 27, Piotr Warawko 0-0 0-0 0, Dontaie Anthony 2-4 0-0 4, Dave Mazza 0-2 0-0 0, Jordan Shaw 0-1 0-0 0, Adam Morgan 3-4 1-2 10, Damar Ruffin 1-2 0-0 2. Totals: 32-70 10-16 82.SLIPPERY ROCK (72)Brandon Thompson 3-6 0-0 6, Matt Schaeffer 2-9 0-0 6, Jamar Scales 8-12 2-2 18, Joseph Vines 3-4 1-3 7, Dejan Jancic 6-10 2-3 14, Corey Nesser 0-2 0-0 0, Matt Hale 3-9 2-2 10, Erroll Robinson 4-10 2-4 11. Totals: 29-62 9-14 72.Halftime — IUP, 39-38. 3-point goals — IUP 8-26 (Baker 2-6, Williams 0-6, Gartner 1-2, Peterson 2-5, Anthony 0-1, Mazza 0-2, Shaw 0-1, Morgan 3-3), SRU 5-17 (Schaeffer 2-7, Scales 0-1, Hale 2-6, Robinson 1-3). Rebounds — IUP 32 (Baker 8), SRU 46 (Jancic 15). Assists — IUP 16 (Williams 5), SRU 14 (Schaeffer 5). Total fouls — IUP 14, SRU 12. Fouled out — none; Technical fouls — none.