Box Score

SLIPPERY ROCK, PA - Sarah Pastorek (Johnstown/Bishop McCort) notched her fourth double-double of the season as the IUP women's basketball team erased an eight-point half deficit to defeat Slippery Rock 57-42 in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West action Saturday.

Pastorek was red hot from the opening tip Saturday, scoring the Crimson Hawks' first seven points. IUP would build a five point lead with 12:01 to play in the first when Marita Mathe (Indiana, Pa. /Indiana) nailed a three-pointer and Leslie Stapleton (Indiana, Pa. /Indiana) converted a pair of free throws, but the lead would not hold up.

Danielle Smith and Emilee Vitez would deposit back-to-back buckets to give The Rock a 13-12 lead with just over ten minutes to play in the half. The Crimson Hawks would knot the game at 16-16 with 5:23 to play in the first, but Slippery Rock would end the half with a flurry.

Erinne Cunningham tallied six consecutive points to give The Rock a 22-16 lead, and Paris Thomas would drain a three to extend the lead to nine with just over three to play. Stapleton would try to keep Slippery Rock within striking distance with a pair of free throws late, but Thomas would end a dominant five minute stretch with a jumper to give The Rock a 27-19 lead at the break.

The lead would be short-lived however, as the Crimson Hawks began the half on a 10-2 run to erase the deficit and knot the game at 29-29 with 15:20 to play in the game. Smith and Chambers responded with layups to halt the run, but a layup by Mathe and a deep three-pointer by Stapleton gave IUP its first lead in over 14 minutes of game time.

From there, the Crimson Hawks would not look back, going on a 21-6 run that spanned over eight minutes and sucked the air out of Morrow Field House. Pastorek scored eight points during the run, while Stapleton added six and Mathe chipped in five.

Cunningham would try to keep The Rock in the game with a three with 2:55 to play, but Pastorek would cap an oustanding second half with a late layup that sealed the win for IUP. The Crimson Hawks oustcored Slippery Rock 38-15 in the second half and were dominant inside, scoring 20 second-half points in the paint.

Pastorek finished with 19 points and 11 rebounds, while Mathe added 10 points, five rebounds and two assists. Stapleton chipped in 10 points and four rebounds.

Cunningham led the way for Slippery Rock with 15 points on 4-of-8 shooting from three-point territory, while Smith finished with nine points and a team-high nine rebounds.

The Crimson Hawks (16-2, 12-2) continue their road-trip this Wednesday when they take on a very talented Gannon squad with second-place in the PSAC West on the line. Tipoff is set for 5:30 p.m.