Box Score

INDIANA, PA – Lindsay Stamp (Erie, Pa. /Mercyhurst Prep) scored a game-high 21 points and grabbed seven rebounds in IUP's 56-45 season-opening women's basketball win over Bluefield State at the Kovalchick Complex on Saturday.

The Crimson Hawks raced out to an early lead, going into halftime on top 34-15. Leslie Stapleton (Indiana, Pa. /Indiana) scored the first points of the season with a three-pointer from the left corner, which jump-started a 28-2 run for IUP.

Seven different players contributed points for the Crimson Hawks during the run, including 12 points from Stamp.

Bluefield State went scoreless for 11:04 in the first half as IUP built a 28-5 lead at the 6:35 mark. The Lady Blues cut their deficit to 20 at 30-10 just a couple minutes later before the Crimson Hawks went into the break with a 19-point lead.

IUP extended its lead to 45-15 by scoring the first 11 points in the second half. Marita Mathe (Indiana, Pa. /Indiana) opened things up with a jumper followed by a three-pointer and layup from Stamp and back-to-back buckets by Amy Fairman (Creekside, Pa. /Marion Center).

The Lady Blues then rattled off the next 10 points to make it a 45-25 game near the midway point of the half. The Crimson Hawks kept their lead around 20, getting another three from Stapleton along with buckets by Lisa Burton (Pittsburgh, Pa. /Penn Hills) and Fairman, going on top 56-35 with 4:15 left to play. Bluefield State did attempt to make a run in the remaining minutes, but IUP closed out the Lady Blues for the win.

Stamp played 34 minutes and shot 8-of-17 from the field and 4-of-4 from the foul line, adding four assists and two steals.

Mathe scored just four points but had a career-high eight assists to go along with eight rebounds and four steals in 30 minutes. Fairman finished with 11 points while Stapleton had 10. Ashley Stoner (Pittsburgh, Pa. /Thomas Jefferson) grabbed eight rebounds while she and Zhane Brooks (Erie, Pa. /Villa Maria) each blocked two shots.

The Crimson Hawks return to the court on Saturday when they host Fairmont State, which beat Bluefield State in its opener, at the Kovalchick Complex. Tipoff is set for 5:30 p.m.