Police say Cal U basketball player aspirated chewing gum; autopsy pending

A 21-year-old California University of Pennsylvania basketball player who was found dead in her apartment early Sunday apparently aspirated chewing gum while sleeping, California Borough police said.

Shanice Clark of Toronto, Canada, was found unresponsive at 3:03 a.m. in her apartment at Vulcan Village, a university complex on California Road, police said. She was pronounced dead about an hour later in Monongahela Valley Hospital in Carroll Township.

California police Chief Rick Encapera said his officers received reports from medical personnel treating Clark that she had been chewing gum while asleep.

The official cause of death is pending an autopsy scheduled Monday.

Aspiration refers to the inhalation of food, drink or stomach contents into the windpipe.

A senior communications major, Clark had transferred to Cal U from Santa Fe College in Gainesville, Fla.

Geraldine Jones, CalU's interim president, extended her sympathy in a statement issued Sunday.

“She will be missed by her teammates and coaches, her classmates, and by the entire campus community,” Jones said.

Clark played in 24 games as a reserve last year. She was red-shirted this year.

“Shanice was a bright student and talented player. Her smile and personality will be missed,” said Karen Hjerpe, Cal U's athletic director.

In response to Clark's death, officials from Cal U and Gannon University postponed the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference basketball doubleheader that had been scheduled for Wednesday in the Hammermill Center in Erie. The games will be played there on Thursday.

Joe Napsha is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. He can be reached at 724-836-5252 or jnapsha@tribweb.com.