Box Score

CALIFORNIA, PA – The Crimson Hawks rallied from 11 down in the second half to take a one-point lead and would later get within two points on a three-pointer by Amy Fairman (Creekside, Pa. /Marion Center) with four seconds left but Cal would convert at the foul line, preventing a season sweep as 20th-ranked IUP was upset by the rival Vulcans 67-63 in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Western Division women's basketball action on Wednesday night at the new Convention Center in California's campus.

Fairman's three came after her missed jumper with 15 seconds remaining, as the Vulcans grabbed the rebound and were sent to the foul line after a quick foul by Leslie Stapleton (Indiana, Pa. /Indiana). It was there that Irina Kukolj converted both of her attempt, putting Cal (13-8, 10-7) in front 65-60 with 13 seconds left on the clock.

The Crimson Hawks (17-4, 13-4) would foul Danielle Luckett, but she would make both of her free throws with two seconds left on the clock to ice the game, handing IUP the loss.

The Vulcans ended the first half on a 10-1 run to take a 29-23 lead into the break, increasing their lead to 10 at 35-25 within the first three minutes of the second half.

Cal would take an 11-point lead at the 15:33 mark before the Crimson Hawks began to chip away at the lead, first with a three by Stapleton a little over a minute later. Ashley Stoner (Pittsburgh, Pa. /Thomas Jefferson) cut IUP's deficit to seven at the 13:50 mark with a traditional three-point play before the Vulcans got back on top by nine on a pair of free throws by Amy Johns.

IUP would continue to chip away with free throws, cutting the Vulcans lead to four with three by Marita Mathe (Indiana, Pa. /Indiana) along with a couple by Sarah Pastorek (Johnstown/Bishop McCort) as the Crimson Hawks trailed 44-40 with 10:42 remaining. A jumper by Fairman at the 8:25 mark made it a two-point game and after a layup by Johns put Cal in front by four, Fairman responded with a trey to get IUP to within one at 48-47 with 7:18 left.

The Crimson Hawks would get more from Fairman, as she converted a steal by Mathe on Cal's next possession into points, getting a layup on the other end to give IUP a 49-48 advantage with 7:06 remaining, its first lead since 2:57 to go in the opening half.

After both teams traded baskets for the next 2:18, the Vulcans got back-to-back three-pointers by Emma Mahady and Ryah Gadson to take a 59-53 lead with just under four minutes remaining. Cal would lead by as many as eight points before a three by Mathe and a pair of free throws by Stapleton made it a three-point game at 63-60, setting up the final 1:05 of play.

Luckett and Johns led the Vulcans with 20 and 19 points, respectively, as Cal turned the ball over 19 times while forcing the Crimson Hawks into 22 turnovers. The Vulcans also won the rebounding battle 38-35 and shot 19-of-21 from the foul line.

The freshman Fairman collected a season-high 16 points on 6-of-11 shooting, adding three assists and three steals in 27 minutes. Pastorek reached double-figures in scoring for the ninth straight game with 12 points with six rebounds while Stoner added 10 points for the Crimson Hawks.

IUP missed a chance to climb back into a tie with Gannon for second place in the PSAC West as the Golden Knights lost to Edinboro on Wednesday night to fall to 14-3 in conference play. Gannon currently holds the tiebreaker with IUP, defeating the Crimson Hawks last month.

IUP returns home on Saturday to host Mercyhurst (11-10, 9-8). Tip-off with the Lakers is set for 5:30 p.m.