Box Score

LOCK HAVEN, PA – Sarah Pastorek (Johnstown/Bishop McCort) notched her sixth double-double of the year and the Crimson Hawks' late 10-1 run opened up a big lead in the second half as 24th-ranked IUP defeated Lock Haven 63-49 in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Western Division women's basketball matchup on Wednesday night.

The win moves IUP to 20-5 overall and 16-5 in the PSAC and with a victory by Gannon over Slippery Rock on Wednesday, the quarterfinals matchup is set as the Crimson Hawks will travel north to play the Golden Knights in Erie next Tuesday in the PSAC tournament.

The Crimson Hawks used three straight three-pointers – two by Amy Fairman (Creekside, Pa. /Marion Center) and one by Arika Ullman (Baltimore, MD/Seton Keough) – at the beginning of the game to open up an 11-2 lead on the Bald Eagles less than four minutes into the game.

Lock Haven then responded with a trey and a layup by Lysa Mealing, cutting its deficit to four less than two minutes later. IUP then took nine-point leads several times, getting five points from Leslie Stapleton (Indiana, Pa. /Indiana) and a bucket by Pastorek before Lock Haven went on an 11-3 run, which included a more than four scoreless minutes by the Crimson Hawks, as the Bald Eagles took a 23-22 lead.

IUP took the lead back with a layup and three-pointer by Fairman, heading into the break with a 31-27 halftime advantage.

The Bald Eagles kept it close in the second half before IUP reeled off eight straight points, four each from Pastorek and Melanie Todd (Springfield, VA/West Springfield), followed by the 11-1 run to take a commanding 58-40 lead with 5:48 left in the game. IUP kept Lock Haven at a distance for the remaining time, cruising to the 14-point victory.

Three Bald Eagles reached double-figures in scoring, led by Mealing's 14, but the Crimson Hawks forced Lock Haven to shoot just 26.5 percent from the field, scoring only 22 second half points. Mealing posted a double-double, adding 14 boards, while Sharay Hall scored 12 points and Samantha Lane added 13 points off the bench.

Pastorek scored 12 points and added 10 boards, blocking a season-high three shots. Fairman went 3-for-5 from three-point range to score 13 points, adding three steals, while Todd nearly missed a double-double of her own with nine points and nine rebounds in just 17 minutes. IUP t 38.9 percent from the floor and made 17-of-22 free throws, outrebounding Lock Haven 43-41 and posted seven blocks on the night.

Before the Crimson Hawks can move on to Gannon in the quarterfinals of the PSAC tournament, they must host the Golden Knights in the regular season finale at the KCAC on Saturday. Tip-off is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. in the first of two games in four days between the two schools.