Box Score

EDINBORO, PA - Leslie Stapleton (Indiana, Pa. /Indiana) scored 14 points and the Crimson Hawks forced 18 turnovers but second-ranked Edinboro was too strong defensively as 21-ranked IUP lost to the Fighting Scots 67-48 in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Western Division women's basketball matchup on Wednesday night.

Although IUP (18-5, 14-5) forced all of those turnovers, the Fighting Scots forced more, getting the Crimson Hawks to turn the ball over 22 times while blocking 15 shots.

The Fighting Scots (23-0, 19-0) scored the game's first 10 points to get out to a quick lead a little over five minutes into the game. After Edinboro built a 15-1 just a little over a minute later, Stapleton stopped the run by knocking down a three-pointer, cutting the Crimson Hawks deficit to 11 with 11:25 left in the half.

Both teams would then trade baskets over the next few minutes as the Edinboro lead fluctuated between 10-12 points until back-to-back threes by Kiara Brown gave the Fighting Scots a 16-point lead at 31-15 with 5:28 left in the half. They would lead by as many as 17 points before a mid-range jumper by Stapleton with 15 seconds left in the half, heading into the break with a 40-25 lead.

IUP scored the second half's first four points, getting free throws by Stapleton, Arika Ullman (Baltimore, MD/Seton Keough) and Amy Fairman (Creekside, Pa. /Marion Center) to cut the Edinboro lead to 11 less than three minutes in. Both teams would then go back-and-forth with baskets over the course of 11 minutes before the Fighting Scots scored seven of eight points to build a 57-38 lead with 6:06 left in the game. They'd go on to make their free throws down the stretch and limt the Crimson Hawks chances en route to the 19-point win.

The Fighting Scots outshot IUP 41.0 percent (25-of-61) to 29.3 percent (17-of-58) while also owning an advantage at the foul line, 92.3 percent (12-of-13) to 68.4 percent (13-of-19).

Brown scored 27 points for the Fightins Scots, knocking down 4-of-10 from three-point range, adding six rebounds, five assists and three steals in 36 minutes. Renee Brown added 17 points and four steals while Samantha Blazetic had eight points, six rebounds and six blocks. Micki Cerchiaro added four blocks.

Stapleton went 4-of-9 from the field and 5-of-6 from the foul line in 27 minutes of action in her first start since December 10 at Kutztown. Sarah Pastorek (Johnstown/Bishop McCort) just missed her sixth double-double of the year with 12 points and nine rebounds, going 6-of-13 from the field.

The Crimson Hawks return to the court on Saturday as they continue their push to the PSAC tournament, hosting rival Slippery Rock at the Kovalchick Complex. Tip-off is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.