Complete Game Notes (PDF) / PSAC Weekly Release

No. 17 IUP (16-3, 12-3) vs. Clarion (6-13, 5-10)
Saturday, February 4, 2012 / 5:30 p.m.
Kovalchick Complex / Indiana, PA

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AT A GLANCE
The Crimson Hawks return to the KCAC for the first of four straight Saturday home games in February as they begin the second half of their PSAC West schedule against Clarion. IUP's three-game win streak came to an end on Wednesday night with a tough road loss to No. 20 Gannon. The Golden Eagles are coming off of a 73-50 blowout win over Slippery Rock this week and have won two of their last three contests, including an overtime win against Cal last Wednesday.

LAST TIME OUT
IUP fell in a battle of top 20 teams, losing 71-40 at No. 20 Gannon on Wednesday night. In addition,  the contest was also a battle for 2nd place in the PSAC West as both teams came in with identical 12-2 records.

The Golden Knights used runs of 13-2 and 14-1 in the first half to gain a 37-18 halftime lead. The Crimson Hawks weren't able to stage a comeback, however, as Gannon led by as many as 35 points in the second half en route to the victory.

Jr. F Sarah Pastorek (Johnstown/Bishop McCort) was the only player to reach double-figures for the Crimson Hawks, scoring 10 points and grabbing 7 boards. Fr. G Marita Mathe (Indiana, Pa. /Indiana) got her first start in place of So. G Talen Watson (Odenton, MD/Arundel), scoring 8 points and giving up just 2 turnovers in 32 minutes of action.  

NATIONAL POLLS
After a 2-0 week, the Crimson Hawks moved up one spot to 17th in the latest USA Today/ESPN Division II Coaches Poll released by the WBCA. This is the fifth straight week IUP is in the top 25.

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 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 13.7 ppg this season, she owns a 49.8 FG%, 4th in the PSAC. Also 1st on the team and 8th in the PSAC with 7.6 rpg, Pastorek leads the team with 39 steals and 13 blocks and is 3rd with 33 assists.

Pastorek has four double-doubles so far this year and has led IUP in scoring 12 times and rebounding 10 times.

FRESHMAN BACKCOURT
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). An all-around threat, Fairman averages 5.5 ppg, 3.9 rpg and 2.6 apg, adding 32 steals. She's also knocked down 15 3's and has an 87.0 FT%. Against Lock Haven she had 6 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists.

Mathe has played in 14 games, averaging 8.4 ppg with a 50.0 3FG%. She tied an IUP single game record for 3's with 7 against Lock Haven, scoring 21 points. She got her first start of the year at Gannon, turning it over just twice in 32 minutes.

Stapleton has also played in 14 games with seven starts, averaging 8.1 ppg with an 82.6 FT%. She's reached double-figures six times, scoring 11 points in 13 minutes in her return to the court on Jan. 14 at Clarion.

SHOOTING THE “3”
IUP is one of the best 3-point shooting teams in the PSAC, making 36.6 percent of its 273 attempts, currently 3rd in the league.

Five players have made at least 15 3's, led by Mathe who has 23. Stapleton has knocked down 21 while Sr. G Arika Ullman (Baltimore, MD/Seton Keough) has hit 18 3's on the season.

Fairman and So. G Talen Watson (Odenton, MD/Arundel) are two more threats, each with 15 3's on the season. IUP has made 6 3's in a game 10 times this season, going 10-23 against Lock Haven.

PLAYING DEFENSE
IUP is playing some of the best defense in the PSAC, leading the conference both in points given up (52.7 ppg) and field goal percentage (34.2). The Crimson Hawks are 7th in the conference in forcing turnovers, making opponents give up possession 21.6 times per game, including a season-high 38 turnovers against Washington Adventist.

The Crimson Hawks are also 7th in the PSAC in steals with 10.4 spg, getting a combined 41 swipes in a three-game set against Mansfield, ESU and Kutztown.

INTO THE STARTING LINEUP
After coming off the bench the first 12 games of the season, Sr. F Vianca Tejada (Pennsauken, NJ/Cherry Hill East) has started the last seven, averaging 20.6 mpg. Against Edinboro and Mercyhurst she averaged 9.0 ppg and 7.0 rpg with a 50.0 FG% and a 75.0 FT%. Against Edinboro, Tejada scored a team-high 13 points on 4-8 shooting, grabbing 8 boards with added 4 assists.

BENCH PRODUCTION
Led by Mathe, Stapleton and Tejada, the Crimson Hawks bench has been a huge part of the team's 16-3 start, outscoring opponents by an average of 27.1-12.1. 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 at least 15 minutes per game while nine regular players average more than 4.8 points per game.

POST PLAY
Fr. F Ashley Stoner (Pittsburgh, Pa. /Thomas Jefferson) has provided additional production down low for the Crimson Hawks, adding 9.3 ppg and 5.4 rpg, both 2nd on the team. Boasting a 47.6 FG% (49-103), Stoner has been even better when she gets to the charity stripe, where she's gone 41-47 (87.2 pct.).

Returning to the court for the first time in two weeks against Lock Haven, Stoner played an effective 13 minutes with 8 points and 4 rebounds. She's reached double-figures in scoring eight times, including a season-high 19 against Cheyney.

THE DOW FILE
Jeff Dow (Oregon '88) enters his fourth season as the head coach at IUP after leading the Crimson Hawks to a record of 19-8, 11-3 in the PSAC West and an appearance in the PSAC Quarterfinals last season.

Dow has a record of 78-27 at IUP and has led 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).