Women's Basketball 1/17/2014 12:30:00 PM Ryan Rebholz, Sports Information Director

Women's Basketball Return Home to Host Rival California on Saturday

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GameDay Central
IUP Crimson Hawks (11-4, 2-3 PSAC West)
vs. California Vulcans (9-6, 3-3 PSAC West)
Saturday, January 18, 2014 | 5:30 p.m.
Kovalchick Complex | Indiana, PA

Complete Game Notes (.pdf)

Listen: WQMU 92.5 FM | U92radio.com
Live Stats: IUPAthletics.com | Fan Stats | Media Stats
Tickets: Comcast TIX | comcasttix.com

PSAC/National Coverage
PSAC Statistics | PSAC Week 6 Notes | WBCA Top 25

Other Links
IUP Schedule | IUP Roster | California Schedule | California Roster

AT A GLANCE
Trying to rebound from its first three-game losing streak since 2006, the Crimson Hawks return home to host rival California (PA) on Saturday night at the KCAC. IUP fell to Bloomsburg at home last Wednesday before losing to Mercyhurst and 2nd-ranked Gannon on the road. They are 11-4 overall and enter the weekend in a tie 5th place in the PSAC West with a 2-3 divisional record. The Vulcans are on a tear, winning seven of their last eight games and come in with a 9-6 overall record. Their even 3-3 mark in the division is tied with Pitt-Johnstown for 3rd in the West.

THE SERIES
California leads the all-time series with IUP with a record of 37-34. The Crimson Hawks have won three of the last four meetings and are 2-0 against the Vulcans in the KCAC (59-51 in 2012-13, 62-43 in 2011-12). These two teams have met four times in the postseason since 2008, with each team coming out on top twice.

IN A SLUMP
As previously mentioned, this is IUP's first three-game losing streak since the 2006-07 season. After starting that season 2-0, the then-Indians fell to Glenville St. (56-47), West Liberty (75-72) and Wheeling Jesuit (81-72). They would go on to finish 24-9 overall, win the PSAC championship, and advance to the NCAA Division II East Region final.

WELCOME BACK
After a 40-day, seven-game absence due to injury, Jr. G Marita Mathe (Indiana, Pa. /Indiana) returned to the court last Saturday at Mercyhurst to score a team-high 15 points off the bench. She was inserted back into the starting lineup at Gannon, scoring 13 points in 33 minutes. She's 8-13 from the field in those two games, including 4-6 from three-point range.

BEYOND THE ARC
The Crimson Hawks are putting together one of the best three-point shooting seasons in school history. Their 38.4 3FG% leads the PSAC and is in the top 15 in Division II. It would also break the previous program mark of 35.8 pct. set during the 2009-10 season. IUP has knocked down a total of 109 3's and its 7.3 made per game is currently 3rd in the PSAC. IUP has four threats from beyond the arc, including Jr. F Amy Fairman (Creekside, Pa. /Marion Center) (43.2 pct), Jr. G Lindsay Stamp (Erie, Pa. /Mercyhurst Prep) (42.2 pct), Mathe (41.2 pct) and Jr. G Leslie Stapleton (Indiana, Pa. /Indiana) (37.7 pct).

FEELING MORE COMFORTABLE
Stapleton has helped lead the surge from the Crimson Hawks' bench, averaging 11.9 ppg and 24.5 mpg in 7 games off the bench. She has four double-figure scoring games as a substitute, including a career-high 21 at Kutztown on Dec. 21, and is 18-37 (48.6 pct.) from three-point range.

TOP SCORER
Even with her current scoring slump, Stamp still leads the PSAC with 19.6 ppg this season. The average is currently 2nd all-time in a single season at IUP (page 7) as she's on pace for one of the top scoring season's in program history. Stamp has 10 20-point scoring games this season and has reached double-figures in scoring 13 times.

SCOUTING CALIFORNIA
The Vulcans have been on a hot streak, winning 7 of their last 8 games. Cal is outscoring opponents by 11.9 points during that span, with wins over West Chester and Millersville, the top two teams in the PSAC East. That streak has coincided with Jr. G Kaitlynn Fratz moving into the starting lineup. She's averaged 14.3 ppg over that span, including games of 27 and 21 points. Jr. G Emma Mahady leads the team in scoring (12.9 ppg) and minutes (29.4 mpg) while Sr. F Elena Antonenko add scoring (10.2 ppg) and size (6-3).

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