Box Score

UNIVERSITY PARK, PA – Behind a career-high 26 points from Amy Fairman (Creekside, Pa. /Marion Center), IUP pushed Penn State to the end in a narrow 75-71 women's basketball exhibition loss at the Bryce Jordan Center on Sunday afternoon.
 
The Crimson Hawks were on fire from three-point range, going 14-of-32 from beyond the arc, the second most three's in a single game in program history.
 
The hot-shooting Fairman finished 8-of-13 from the floor, including 6-of-8 from three-point range, and also went 4-of-6 from the foul line. She added six assists, four rebounds and two steals in 30 minutes of work.
 
After not scoring until the 16:20 mark of the first half, the Crimson Hawks used its success from behind the three-point line to get back into the game. Penn State would build a 24-10 lead, but IUP scored 16 of the game's next 20 points to cut its deficit to two at 28-26 with 6:18 to play in the half. The 16-4 run was capped by a three by Fairman and took up 6:25 on the clock. 

After a free throw by Penn State got its lead up to three, the Crimson Hawks tied things up at 29-29 on their next trip down the floor when Marita Mathe (Indiana, Pa. /Indiana) nailed one of her four three-pointers on the game. Zhane Brooks (Erie, Pa. /Villa Maria) gave IUP its first lead of the game on the following possession, putting the Crimson Hawks on top 30-29 with a free throw with 4:16 to go before the break. The Lady Lions rebounded in the remaining minutes and took a slim 37-33 lead into the locker room.

The momentum continued into the start of the second half for the Crimson Hawks, with Ashley Stoner (Pittsburgh, Pa. /Thomas Jefferson) converting on a layup and Fairman and Mathe each knocking down three-pointers in the opening minutes. Penn State led by five at 48-43 with 15:05 on the clock, but IUP came back with buckets by Fairman, Brooks and then a three by Megan Smith (Blain, Pa./West Perry), which put the Crimson Hawks on top 51-50 with 13:21 to play. A free throw by Lindsay Stamp (Erie, Pa. /Mercyhurst Prep) and a jumper by Leslie Stapleton (Indiana, Pa. /Indiana) minutes later put IUP on top 54-50, its biggest lead of the game. 

The Lady Lions came back to tie the game and later reeled off 10 straight points to take a 66-56 lead with three minutes to go. The Crimson Hawks would not lay down easily, continuously making plays and battling back, as another three by Fairman made it a five-point game at 73-68 with 16 seconds to go. The Lady Lions made their free throws on the other end, however, putting the game out of reach. 
 
As a team, IUP dished out 20 assists on its 23 total baskets and turned the ball over 12 times. The Crimson Hawks shot 23-of-64 from the field and 11-of-19 from the foul line. They also forced the Lady Lions into 20 turnovers.
 
Mathe scored 12 points, going 4-of-9 from three-point range, and dished out five assists in 35 minutes. Stoner and Brooks each finished with eight points and five rebounds and Smith added six points off the bench, both on three-pointers.

The Crimson Hawks have one final exhibition game before the start of the regular season, as they travel down the road to Pittsburgh to face the Pitt Panthers on Saturday. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m.