Boxscore

IUP continued to shut down opposing offenses, limiting Slippery Rock to 30 percent shooting and forcing 24 turnovers in a 71-40 victory in a PSAC West game Saturday at Memorial Field House.

The Crimson Hawks (10-4, 2-0) won their eighth in a row, their longest streak since reeling off nine straight at the outset of the 2007-08 season. Slippery Rock dropped to 2-12 and 0-2 in the division and has lost its past eight games to IUP.

Eryn Withers (Burtonsville, Md./Springbrook) hit four 3-pointers and led three IUP players in double figures with 17 points. She was followed by Sarah Pastorek (Johnstown/Bishop McCort) with 12 and Katelyn Marshall (Bowie, Md./Elizabeth Seton) with 10. Pastorek also led the Crimson Hawks on the boards with six and made five of IUP's 11 steals while Claar dished out five steals.

Danielle Smith was the lone player to reach double figures for Slippery Rock, finishing with 11 points. Emilee Vitez was the game's top rebounder with nine.

During their winning streak the Crimson Hawks have allowed an average of only 45.4 points per game, including five games of 43 or less, forced an average of more than 27 turnovers per contest and allowed opponents to shoot just 32.1 percent from the field.

IUP also continued its hot shooting from 3-point distance, connecting on 9 of 22 for 41 percent. The Crimson Hawks have made at least seven 3-pointers in all eight wins during their streak and are shooting 46.8 percent (66 of 141) from beyond the arc during that span.

IUP never trailed after two free throws by Pastorek gave the Crimson Hawks a 6-4 lead just under five minutes into the game and a 14-2 run opened the advantage up to 24-9 with 5:50 to go before halftime. Claar, Vianca Tejada (Pennsauken, NJ/Cherry Hill East) and Marshall all hit 3-pointers during what proved to be the decisive run.

The lead grew to 44-23 at the break and continued to expand after halftime when IUP held Slippery Rock to four points until more than 10 minutes were gone. The Rock made just 5 of 23 field goal attempts (21.7 percent) in the second half and scored only 17 points.

All 10 players on the IUP active roster scored and grabbed a rebound in the game and no one played more than Pastorek's 28 minutes.

The Crimson Hawks hit the road for the first time in PSAC West play and first time overall since January 4 when they play at California on Wednesday at 6 p.m.