Complete Game Notes (PDF) / PSAC Weekly Release

No. 24 IUP (19-5, 15-5) at Lock Haven (8-15, 7-13)
Wednesday, February 22, 2012 / 6:00 p.m.
Thomas Fieldhouse / Lock Haven, PA

Live Audio - RedZoneMedia.com
Live Video - LHUP.edu

AT A GLANCE
The Crimson Hawks enter the final week of the regular season still jockeying for position in the PSAC West as they make their final road trip to face Lock Haven on Wednesday night. IUP is currently the 3rd seed in the division, two games behind Gannon for 2nd and two games ahead of Cal for 4th. The Bald Eagles are on a three-game losing streak and have dropped eight of their last nine.

LAST TIME OUT
Jumping out to a 17-point halftime lead, the Crimson Hawks cruised to a 70-45 victory over Slippery Rock on Saturday night. IUP scored 12 of the game's first 14 points, eventually building a 35-18 advantage at halftime. The Crimson Hawks would go on to force 25 turnovers and outrebound The Rock 45-23 in the blowout win.

All 12 Crimson Hawks saw playing time as 10 scored, led by Jr. F Sarah Pastorek (Johnstown/Bishop McCort)'s 12 points and Fr. G Amy Fairman (Creekside, Pa. /Marion Center)'s 10 points. Pastorek added 4 steals while Fairman had 7 boards and 3 steals. 

REGIONAL RANKINGS
The first NCAA Atlantic Regional rankings were released last Wednesday as IUP opened in 4th behind Edinboro (1st), Gannon (2nd) and Johnson C. Smith (3rd). The top eight teams in the region advance to the NCAA tournament with the PSAC, WVIAC and CIAA champs getting automatic berths.

NATIONAL POLLS
IUP had its third straight 1-1 week, falling to No. 2 Edinboro on Wednesday before blowing out The Rock on Saturday, as the Crimson Hawks moved down three spots to 24th in the latest USA Today/ESPN Division II Coaches Poll released by the WBCA. This is the eighth straight week IUP is in the top 25.

PSAC TOURNAMENT
IUP clinched its 7th consecutive PSAC tournament berth with its win over Mercyhurst back on Feb. 11. The Crimson Hawks are currently 3rd in the West, two games behind Gannon for 2nd and two ahead of Cal for 4th.

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 14.0 ppg this season, she owns a 48.6 FG%, 6th in the PSAC. Also 1st on the team and t-6th in the PSAC with 7.6 rpg, Pastorek leads the team with 50 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 6.5 ppg and 3.8 rpg, leads the team with 56 assists and is 2nd with 47 steals. She's knocked down 19 3's and has an 81.6 FT%. Fairman has reached double-figures in scoring six times and is averaging 10.2 ppg over her last five contests.

POINT-SCORER
Mathe has played in 19 games and is 2nd on the team in scoring with 8.8 ppg. She leads the PSAC with a 44.4 3FG% (32-72), making at least 1 in 13 games, and tied an IUP single-game record for 3's with 7 against Lock Haven on Jan. 25. She's started six straight games and has scored in double-figures six times.

DIFFERENCE MAKER
Stapleton has started eight of 19 games this season, averaging 8.4 ppg and is 11th in the PSAC with a 38.2 3FG%. She's been efficient from the foul line, leading the team with an 85.7 FT% and has a 41.9 FG%. Earning her first start at Edinboro since Dec. 10, she scored 14 points in just 27 minutes.

SHOOTING THE “3”
IUP is one of the best 3-point shooting teams in the PSAC, making 33.4 percent of its 374 attempts, currently 5th in the league.

Five players have at least 15 3's, led by Mathe's 32. Sr. G Arika Ullman (Baltimore, MD/Seton Keough) has knocked down 22 from beyond the arc and has a 34.4 3FG% while So. G Talen Watson (Odenton, MD/Arundel) has a 32.6 3FG%. 

PLAYING DEFENSE
IUP is playing some of the best defense in the PSAC, 2nd in the conference in points given up (54.2 ppg) and 1st FG% (35.7). The Crimson Hawks are 5th in the PSAC in forcing turnovers, making opponents give up possession 21.9 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 8.7 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 79.4 FT% and has connected on 62-128 of her shots from the field (48.4 percent).

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 19-5 record, outscoring opponents by an average of 24.8-12.7. 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 14.0 minutes per game while nine regular players average more than 4.1 points per game.

QUEEN OF THE BOARDS
So. F Melanie Todd (Springfield, VA/West Springfield) is 3rd on the team in rebounding, averaging 4.2 rpg. Her 52 offensive boards are 2nd and while she plays just 14.0 mpg, Todd is averaging 11.9 rpg and 6.2 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 80-29 at the school, leading the Crimson Hawks to three consecutive PSAC tournament appearances during his tenure.