A college basketball star who was found dead in her dorm room in January died from a blood cell disorder , not from choking on gum in her sleep , as police first believed . The Washington County coroner announced Shanice Clark 's cause of death on Monday , nearly two months after the 21-year-old was found inside her room at California University of Pennsylvania . She was found unresponsive at 3.03am on January 18 . She was rushed to Monongahela Valley Hospital but she could not be revived and was pronounced dead at 4.10am . California borough police said that a preliminary report from medical personnel indicated the death appeared to be accidental and there were suggestions she had choked on gum . Tragedy : Shanice Clark , 21 , was found unresponsive in her dorm room at California University of Pennsylvania , where she played basketball , in January . She passed away from a blood cell disorder . But Coroner Tim Warco blamed it on sickle cell trait , a blood cell disorder that often does not have any symptoms but can lead to sudden death in extremely rare cases , according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention . University officials said they were 'deeply saddened ' by the death of the 6-foot senior forward , who had played two dozen games for the Vulcans last season . Athletic director Karen Hjerpe called Clark ' a bright student and talented player ' and said 'her smile and personality will be missed ' . Clark , a communications major , had hoped to become a broadcaster and chose the school because of its good facilities after transferring from Santa Fe College in Florida . But friend Cleveland Clunis told the Toronto Star that she would often joke that she had gone to the university for a different reason . Talented : The 6-foot senior forward , from Canada , had played two dozen games for the Vulcans last season . Loss : Clark , who was from Toronto , was a communications major at the California University of Pennsylvania , pictured , and had dreamed of becoming a broadcaster , devastated friends and family said . 'For Shanice , it was , `` There 's a good hairstylist '' , ' said Clunis , the founder of a non-profit basketball program she had attended . 'When she shares that with you , you ca n't help but laugh . ' He said that this sense of humor had made her popular among students and staff . 'She could start a conversation with you from morning and still have you laughing and interested till sundown , ' he said . Geraldine M. Jones , interim university president , said in a statement after her death : 'Our thoughts today are with the family of Shanice Clark , a senior from Ontario , Canada , who passed away early this morning . 'On behalf of California University of Pennsylvania , I extend my deepest sympathy to all of Shanice 's family and friends . She will be missed by her teammates and coaches , her classmates , and by the entire campus community . ' Clark left behind her mother , Kashaeka Fearon , and a younger sister . Sickle cell trait means someone is carrying a gene for a serious condition called sickle cell disease , which can cause red blood cells to change their shapes , potentially causing pain and infections . If someone has sickle cell trait , it does not mean they have sickle cell disease . Instead , they are a carrier of the trait and can pass it on to their children . If they were to have children with someone else carrying the trait , that child has a 25 per cent chance of being born with sickle cell disease . People with sickle cell trait have red blood cells with abnormal hemoglobin ( a protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen from the lungs and returns carbon dioxide from tissues back to the lungs ) but they have enough normal hemoglobin for red cells to successfully carry oxygen around the body . While it is extremely rare for sickle cell trait to cause any complications , there can be problems in conditions of severe physical stress , including low oxygen conditions , severe dehydration , severe physical exercise or very high altitude . In these situations , cells can change their shapes , causing pain and further complications . Sickle cell trait , which is more commonly found in African-Americans than other races , is diagnosed with a simple blood test . Couples planning to have children may want to find out if they have the trait to see if their kids might inherit sickle cell disease .
Shanice Clark , from Toronto , was found unresponsive in her room at Vulcans in the early hours of January 18 . Early investigations suggested she had choked on gum in her sleep . But on Monday , the coroner blamed it on sickle cell trait , a blood cell disorder that can lead to sudden death in extremely rare cases . The senior , who had played two dozen games for the the California University of Pennsylvania last season , was remembered for her sharp wit and determination .