Complete Game Notes (PDF) / PSAC Weekly Release

No. 18 IUP (13-2, 9-2) at Mercyhurst (8-7, 6-5)
Saturday, January 21, 2012 / 1:00 p.m.
Mercyhurst Athletic Center / Erie, PA

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AT A GLANCE
Coming off a hard loss at home to No. 3 Edinboro on Wednesday evening, the 18th-ranked Crimson Hawks look to rebound on the road in Erie against Mercyhurst on Saturday afternoon. The Lakers are also looking to get back in the win column, having lost each of its last two games and have not see a lot of victories over IUP as the Crimson Hawks have won each of the last seven contests in the series.

LAST TIME OUT
IUP lost in a battle of top 20 teams on Wednesday, falling to the third-ranked Fighting Scots 71-45 at the KCAC.

The Crimson Hawks held an early 4-2 lead over Edinboro but the Fighting Scots went on a 16-3 run to take an 11-point lead. They'd go on to lead by as many as 18 in the first half, breaking open the game in the second half for the big win.One of the top defensive teams in the conference, Edinboro turned up the heat on the Crimson Hawks, forcing 30 turnovers en route to the 26-point win. The Fighting Scots were also efficient on the offensive end as five players scored in double figures.

Sr. F Vianca Tejada (Pennsauken, NJ/Cherry Hill East) and Jr. F Sarah Pastorek (Johnstown/Bishop McCort) each scored 13 points for IUP, with Tejada adding 8 boards and 4 assists.

PSAC WEST ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Jr. F Sarah Pastorek (Johnstown/Bishop McCort) was named PSAC West Athlete of Week on Monday after averaging 16.0 points and 12.0 rebounds in IUP's two wins last week. Her 15-point, 18-rebound performance against Cal was her third double-double this year.

NATIONAL POLLS
The Crimson Hawks continue their climb in the national polls, moving up three spots to 18th in the latest USA Today/ESPN Division II Coaches Poll released by the WBCA. IUP was ranked 21st last week, tied with PSAC West rival Gannon.

FAST START
IUP's 13-2 start is one of its best ever, winning its first 11 games before a 58-55 heartbreaking loss to Millersville. The perfect 11-0 mark was its best start to a season since the program went 16-0 to begin the 1999-2000 season. That year IUP finished 24-5, advancing to the NCAA East Region semifinals.

THE LEADER
IUP leans on Jr. F Sarah Pastorek (Johnstown/Bishop McCort), the best all-around player for the Crimson Hawks. Tops on the team with 13.3 ppg this season, she owns a 50.6 FG%, connecting on 84-166 from the field. Also 1st on the team with 7.8 rpg, Pastorek leads the team with 33 steals and 9 blocks and is 3rd with 29 assists.

Pastorek has three double-doubles so far this year and has led IUP in scoring nine times and rebounding seven times.

FRESHMEN BACKCOURT
Getting valuable playing time as true freshmen this year are G's Amy Fairman (Creekside, Pa. /Marion Center), Marita Mathe (Indiana, Pa. /Indiana) and Leslie Stapleton (Indiana, Pa. /Indiana). Playing in all 15 games and starting 11, Fairman has contributed all over the court with 6.1 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 2.9 apg and 27 steals. During a recent five game run, Fairman shot 52.0 percent (13-25) from the floor and 42.9 percent (6-14) from 3. She's also averaged 5.8 rpg and had 15 assists and 11 steals over that time. 

Mathe and Stapleton have missed games recently but in Mathe's 10 games she is averaging 7.6 ppg and 3.0 rpg and has a 48.0 3FG% (12-25). Against Clarion, Stapleton saw her first action since Dec. 10, scoring 11 points in 13 minutes.

SHOOTING THE “3”
The Crimson Hawks are one of the best 3-point shooting teams in the PSAC, connecting on 36.4 percent of their 214 attempts. They've made at least six 3's in a game seven times, going 8-15 at Cheyney and 9-14 at Shippensburg and also went 6-14 against West Chester.

Leading the way recently has been So. G Talen Watson (Odenton, MD/Arundel), who went 7-13 during a four-game streak. She's currently 5th in the PSAC with a 44.1 3FG%, going 15-35 this season. Fairman has also been hot, making five of her last 12 attempts.

PLAYING DEFENSE
IUP is playing some of the best defense in the PSAC, leading the conference both in points given up (52.3 ppg) and field goal percentage (33.4). The Crimson Hawks are 6th in the conference in forcing turnovers, making opponents give up possession 22.6 times per game, including a season-high 38 turnovers against Washington Adventist.

The Crimson Hawks are also 6th in the PSAC in steals with 11.1 spg, getting a combined 34 swipes in a three-game set against Mansfield, ESU and Kutztown.

PROVIDING A SPARK
Sr. F Vianca Tejada (Pennsauken, NJ/Cherry Hill East) has has given the Crimson Hawks scoring off the bench this season, averaging 8.2 ppg in 18.0 mpg. She's received more playing time recently, getting starts in each of the last three games. One of IUP's only bright spots against Edinboro, she scored 13 points and added 8 rebounds and 4 assists. Reaching double-figures six times, Tejada has a 40.4 FG% (42-104).

BENCH PRODUCTION
Led by Mathe and Tejada, the Crimson Hawks bench has been a huge part of the team's 13-2 start, outscoring opponents 426-190 this season. Using anywhere from five-to-seven  players off the bench, IUP has owned a huge advantage in nearly every game, including a 30-10 point spread in the road win at Clarion.

POST PLAY
Fr. F Ashley Stoner (Pittsburgh, Pa. /Thomas Jefferson) has provided additional production down low for the Crimson Hawks, adding 10.6 ppg and 5.8 rpg, both 2nd on the team. Boasting a 49.4 FG% (44-89), Stoner has been even better when she gets to the charity stripe, where she's gone 39-45 (86.7 pct.).

Stoner had her first career double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds in the win over Bowie State and had a season-high 19 points earlier in the year in the win over Cheyney.

THE DOW FILE
Jeff Dow (Oregon '88) enters his fourth season as the head coach at IUP after leading the Crimson Hawks to a record of 19-8, 11-3 in the PSAC West and an appearance in the PSAC Quarterfinals last season.

Dow has a record of 75-26 at IUP and has led the Crimson Hawks to three consecutive PSAC tournament appearances during his tenure. Over the course of his first three years, Dow has set school records in winning 10 or more games in three consecutive seasons in PSAC West divisional games and for overall winning percentage in PSAC West games (.761).