Box Score

INDIANA, PA – Marita Mathe (Indiana, Pa. /Indiana) led four Crimson Hawks in double-figures with 17 points as 23rd-ranked IUP easily handled Clarion 84-67 in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West women's basketball action on Saturday night at the KCAC.

Mathe drained five of her 10 three-point attempts on the night, adding a pair of free throws and turning it over just once in 29 minutes of action.

The win moves IUP to 13-4 overall and 8-3 in the PSAC, good for third in the division.

Sarah Pastorek (Johnstown/Bishop McCort) added 16 points in 24 minutes for the Crimson Hawks, going 6-of-12 from the field and 4-of-5 from the foul line, grabbing four rebounds. Lindsay Stamp (Erie, Pa. /Mercyhurst Prep) and Zhane Brookes each came off the bench to net 10 points apiece. Stamp played 15 minutes, grabbing five boards and dishing out three assists while Brooks reached double-figures in only 11 minutes, going 3-of-3 from the field and 4-of-6 from the foul line.

Clarion (8-9, 4-7) had the game's first bucket but the Golden Eagles lead was short-lived as Mathe answered right away with her first triple of the night to put the Crimson Hawks up for good. An 8-0 run soon followed as IUP jumped on top 14-4 at the 12:07 mark after a layup by Stamp.

The Crimson Hawks would lead by as many as 17 in the first half and went into the break with a 42-26 advantage after a nice look from Stamp to Pastorek as time expired.

Mathe began the second half the same way she began the first, draining a three-pointer to give IUP a 19-point lead at 45-26. A three by Talen Watson (Odenton, MD/Arundel) a minute later made it a 48-28 game as the Crimson Hawks kept control of the game early in the second stanza.

The Golden Eagles fought back to cut IUP's lead to 14 but an 8-2 run by the Crimson Hawks, capped off by three free throws by Marina Wareham (New Wilmington, Pa. /Kennedy Catholic), put the lead up to 21 at 66-45 with 10:32 on the clock.  

IUP's lead climbed to 26 at 80-54 with 3:55 to go in the game as the Crimson Hawks finished off the conference victory.

Hannah Heeter was the Clarion leader with 24 points and 13 rebounds on the night.

IUP turned the ball over just 11 times, shooting 46 percent (28-61) from the floor and 41 percent (9-22) from three-point range. The Crimson Hawks also outrebounded Clarion 37-27.

Pastorek's point total puts her at 1,219 for her career, four shy of entering IUP's all-time top 10.

The Crimson Hawks are back in action on Wednesday as they travel to Edinboro. They return home on Saturday to host Mercyhurst. Tipoff for both contests is set for 5:30 p.m.