IUP Crimson Hawks (19-7, 14-6) at Slippery Rock (4-20, 3-17)
Saturday, February 23, 2013 | 1:00 PM
Morrow Field House | Slippery Rock, PA

Complete Game Notes (.PDF)

LIVE COVERAGE
Listen: RedZoneMedia.com (WQMU 92.5 FM)
Stats: RockAthletics.com

AT A GLANCE
The Crimson Hawks have the ability to lock up the third seed in the PSAC tournament with a win this weekend as they travel to face rival Slippery Rock on Saturday. IUP enters with a one game lead over California, which it also owns the tiebreaker with heading into the final two games of the regular season. The Crimson Hawks own a 14-6 conference record while The Rock sits at the bottom of the PSAC West with a 3-17 mark.

LAST TIME OUT
Despite a double-double by Fr. F Zhané Brooks and 18 points from So. G Lindsay Stamp (Erie, Pa. /Mercyhurst Prep), the Crimson Hawks fell to No. 22 Edinboro 57-45 in a tough defensive effort on Wednesday. The two teams shot a combined 25.6 pct (30-117) from the field, including 25.0 pct (5-25) from three-point range.

FIRST MEETING
The Crimson Hawks built a 22-point halftime lead en route to an easy 77-48 win over Slippery Rock back on Feb. 2. Stamp scored 21 of her game-high 24 points in the first half alone and finished 10-15 from the field with 6 rebounds and 2 steals. Five players scored at least 8 points for IUP including So. G Marita Mathe (Indiana, Pa. /Indiana), who went 3-5 from three-point range.

GO TO SCORER
Stamp has stepped up her game since becoming a starter against Mercyhurst on Jan. 26, averaging 14.5 points in her last 8 games. She's reached double-figures in scoring 6 times during that span, including a season-high 24 in the first meeting with Slippery Rock. Playing in 26.3 mpg as a starter, she's averaging 22.1 points per 40 minutes played.

TOP FRESHMAN
Brooks has played an important part in IUP's last 8 games, averaging 8.8 points and 5.5 rebounds as the Crimson Hawks have gone 6-2. She recorded her first career double-double (10 points, 11 rebounds) against No. 22 Edinboro and has a 43.9 FG% (29-66) this season, going 23-46 over the past 8 games.

DEFENSE IS THE KEY
One of the top defensive teams in the PSAC, IUP holds its opponents to a conference-best 55.5 points per game. The Crimson Hawks have given up 60 or fewer points in 17 of their 26 games this year, including 57 to Edinboro on Wednesday. In 10 games against PSAC West tournament qualifiers, IUP has given up an average of 59.5 points per game.

THE HEAD COACH
Jeff Dow (Oregon, '88) is in his fifth season as the head coach at IUP, leading the Crimson Hawks to a pair of NCAA tournaments (2009, 2012) and a PSAC championship during a 26-6 debut season in 2008-09. A few weeks ago Dow eclipsed 100 wins in his IUP head coaching career (104-38) and has an overall record of 216-103.