Box Score

INDIANA, PA - The Crimson Hawks forced 25 turnovers and outrebounded Slippery Rock 45-to-23 as 21st-ranked IUP cruised past its rival 70-45 in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Western Division women's basketball matchup on Saturday night at the Kovalchick Complex.

IUP (19-5, 15-5) got out to a quick start, making five of its first eight shots to take a 12-2 lead less than five minutes into the game. After a three-pointer by The Rock's Sherita Stanley made it a seven-point game but the Crimson Hawks responded the following possession with a layup and one by Sarah Pastorek (Johnstown/Bishop McCort), getting the lead back to double-digits with under 15 minutes to go.

The Rock (5-19, 2-18) would chip away at IUP's lead again, getting it to within five at 17-12 on a triple by D'Asia Chambers. But again the Crimson Hawks responded, scoring the next nine points to take a 14-point advantage and would later get a pair of three-pointers by Arika Ullman (Baltimore, MD/Seton Keough) to take a commanding 35-18 lead into the break.

The Crimson Hawks came out strong in the second half, getting a layup by Ashley Stoner (Pittsburgh, Pa. /Thomas Jefferson) and another traditional three-point play by Pastorek to get on top by 20 points at 40-20 just 2:24 into the half. A three-pointer by The Rock's Paris Thomas didn't get IUP as a layup by Amy Fairman (Creekside, Pa. /Marion Center) ignited an 11-1 run by the Crimson Hawks over the next 2:44 to jump on top comfortably by a score of 51-24. 

Even as IUP emptied its bench the Crimson Hawks didn't let up as they kept forcing turnovers and led by as many as 29 in the last few minutes before eventually taking the 25-point blowout win.

Although The Rock gave up 25 turnovers, they did shot 42.1 percent from the floor, connecting on 16-of-38 field goals. However they only made 8-of-16 from the foul line and were wipped clean on the glass as the Crimson Hawks pulled down 21 offensive rebounds compared to just two for Slippery Rock.

Thomas was forced into seven turnovers herself from the point guard position and Chambers was the only player for The Rock in double-figures with 14 points. 

All 12 players saw action for IUP as Pastorek had a team-high 12 points in 27 minutes, adding four steals and going 4-of-8 from the floor. Fairman added 10 points and seven rebounds with three steals in just 21 minutes while Stoner had nine points and six boards and Marita Mathe (Indiana, Pa. /Indiana) added five points, six rebounds and three assists.

The Crimson Hawks are back in action on Wednesday when they travel to Lock Haven to take on the Bald Eagles with tip-off scheduled for 6:00 p.m. With Edinboro and Gannon wrapping up the top two seeds in the PSAC West, IUP is still battling with rival Cal for the third and fourth seeds in the division for the PSAC tournament.