Complete Game Notes (PDF) / PSAC Weekly Release

No. 21 IUP (18-4, 14-4) at No. 2 Edinboro (22-0, 18-0)
Wednesday, February 15, 2012 / 5:30 p.m.
McComb Fieldhouse / Edinboro, PA

Live Fan Stats - GoFightingScots.com
Live Audio - RedZoneMedia.com
Live Video - Edinboro.tv

AT A GLANCE
The Crimson Hawks hit the road for some revenge as they travel to take on No. 2 Edinboro on Wednesday night. They'll be looking for some revenge after the Fighting Scots win at the KCAC back on Jan. 18. Edinboro enters the game with a perfect record and high national ranking, however its only home loss last year came at the hands of the Crimson Hawks.

LAST TIME OUT
After falling behind by 10 points early, IUP rallied, forcing 27 turnovers en route to a 65-57 win over Mercyhurst on Saturday at the KCAC.

The Crimson Hawks used a 12-0 first half run to get on top and led by as many as 10 points in the second half, using foul shots by Sr. G Arika Ullman (Baltimore, MD/Seton Keough) and Fr. G Amy Fairman (Creekside, Pa. /Marion Center) to ice the game. Jr. F Sarah Pastorek (Johnstown/Bishop McCort) scored a team-high 14 points and 8 rebounds while Fr. G Marita Mathe (Indiana, Pa. /Indiana) added 13 points, going 3-6 from beyond the arc.

NATIONAL POLLS
After a 1-1 week, beating Mercyhurst at home after a close loss at rival Cal on Wednesday, the Crimson Hawks moved down a spot to 21st in the latest USA Today/ESPN Division II Coaches Poll released by the WBCA. This is the seventh straight week IUP is in the top 25.

PSAC TOURNAMENT
With its win over Mercyhurst, IUP clinched a spot in the PSAC tournament for the 7th consecutive season. The Crimson Hawks are currently 3rd in the West, one game behind Gannon for 2nd and three ahead of Cal.

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 14.1 ppg this season, she owns a 48.7 FG%, 5th in the PSAC. Also 1st on the team and 6th in the PSAC with 7.8 rpg, Pastorek leads the team with 45 steals and has five double-doubles so far this year.

LOCAL FRESHMEN
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). All local talent, Mathe and Stapleton were teammates at Indiana HS while Fairman played 15 miles down the road at Marion Center HS.

ALL-AROUND THREAT
Getting work all over the court, Fairman averages 6.4 ppg and 3.7 rpg, leads the team with 55 assists and is 2nd with 41 steals. She's knocked down 19 3's and has an 85.3 FT%. Fairman has reached double-figures in scoring five times, and is averaging 11.7 ppg over her past three games.

POINT-SCORER
Mathe has played in 17 games, 2nd on the team in scoring with 9.4 ppg. Becoming statistically eligible a week ago after missing some time, she leads the PSAC with a 47.0 3FG% (31-66). Mathe tied an IUP single-game record for 3's with 7 against Lock Haven, and has averaged 13.2 ppg with a 22-15 assist-turnover ratio the last six games.

DIFFERENCE MAKER
Stapleton has started seven of 17 games this season, averaging 8.1 ppg and is 6th in the PSAC with a 40.3 3FG% (25-62). She's been efficient from the foul line with an 84.0 FT% (21-25) and has a 42.6 FG% (46-108). In her first game back in a month on Jan. 14, Stapleton scored 11 points on 4-7 shooting in just 13 minutes off the bench against Clarion.

SHOOTING THE “3”
IUP is one of the best 3-point shooting teams in the PSAC, making 34.6 percent of its 327 attempts, currently 5th in the league.

Five players have at least 15 3's, led by Mathe's 31. Sr. G Arika Ullman (Baltimore, MD/Seton Keough) has knocked down 20 from beyond the arc and has a 35.1 3FG% while So. G Talen Watson (Odenton, MD/Arundel) has a 33.3 3FG%. 

PLAYING DEFENSE
IUP is playing some of the best defense in the PSAC, 2nd in the conference in points given up (54.0 ppg) and 1st FG% (35.2). The Crimson Hawks are t-6th in the PSAC in forcing turnovers, making opponents give up possession 21.6 times per game, including a season-high 38 turnovers against Washington Adventist.

POST PLAY
Fr. F Ashley Stoner (Pittsburgh, Pa. /Thomas Jefferson) has provided additional production down low, scoring 9.1 ppg and grabbing 5.2 rpg. She's reached double-figures in scoring 10 times and had her first career double-double against Bowie State with 18 points and 10 rebounds. She's efficient when fouled with an 80.3 FT% and has a 49.6 FG%.

BENCH PRODUCTION
Led by Mathe, Stapleton and Sr. F Vianca Tejada (Pennsauken, NJ/Cherry Hill East), the Crimson Hawks bench has been a huge part of the team's 18-4 record, outscoring opponents by an average of 25.5-12.5. 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.

10 different players average 14.2 minutes per game while nine regular players average more than 4.3 points per game.

QUEEN OF THE BOARDS
So. F Melanie Todd (Springfield, VA/West Springfield) is 3rd on the team in rebounding, averaging 4.4 rpg. Her 51 offensive boards are 2nd and while she plays just 14.2 mpg, Todd is averaging 12.4 rpg and 6.5 off rpg per 40 minutes. She has grabbed 5 rebounds 10 times, including a season-high 11 against Seton Hill.

FAST START
The Crimson Hawks perfect 11-0 start to their season was one of program's best ever before the heartbreaking 58-55 loss to Millersville. IUP began 16-0 to start the 1999-2000 season, finishing 24-5, advancing to the NCAA East Region semifinals.

THE DOW FILE
Jeff Dow (Oregon '88) is in his fourth season as the head coach at IUP, compiling a record of 79-28 at the school, leading 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).