INDIANA, PA – In the first half alone, Ashley Stoner (Pittsburgh, Pa. /Thomas Jefferson) and Lindsay Stamp (Erie, Pa. /Mercyhurst Prep) posted a combined 21 points and 12 rebounds in Wednesday's 65-45 victory over the Mercyhurst Lakers. 
 
The explosive first half led to Stoner posting a total 14 points and 11 rebounds, and Stamp adding 23 points, her fifth 20-point game of the season, and 10 rebounds. 
 
Stoner started off the IUP offense at the 18:43 mark with a layup, assisted by Leslie Stapleton (Indiana, Pa. /Indiana).  From there, the Crimson Hawks posted 12 points before Mercyhurst finally answered with a layup of their own seven minutes into the game. 
 
At the end of the half, both teams returned to the locker rooms with IUP holding a 33-21 lead over the Lakers.  This marks the fifth time this season that the Crimson Hawks found a win after leading at halftime. 
 
Mercyhurst was never able to catch IUP throughout the second half, and the Crimson Hawks clinched their sixth consecutive win of the season, giving them a perfect 6-0 record, 2-0 in the PSAC. 
 
In addition to Stoner's double-double, she added one assist, block and steal for IUP.  Zhane Brooks (Erie, Pa. /Villa Maria) saw 18 minutes of action, and gave the Crimson Hawks' offense 10 points and one assist.  Defensively, she totaled six rebounds and one steal. 
 
Amy Fairman (Creekside, Pa. /Marion Center), who currently leads the team with 19 steals in five games added two more tonight, in addition to her five assists, two points and three rebounds.  Other starters, Stapleton and Marita Mathe (Indiana, Pa. /Indiana), added a combined six points, six assists, and 11 rebounds. 
 
Eight players saw action off the bench in Wednesday's game including Marina Wareham (New Wilmington, Pa. /Kennedy Catholic), Amy Graham (Zanesville, Ohio/West Muskingum), Monica Burns (New Stanton, Pa. /Hempfield ), Alexis Aiken (Pittsburgh, Pa. /North Allegheny), Brooks, Lisa Burton (Pittsburgh, Pa. /Penn Hills), Halle Denman (Beaver Falls, Pa. /Blackhawk) and Megan Smith (Blain, Pa./West Perry). 
 
Throughout the 40 minutes, the team sunk 10-of-16 free throws for a percentage of .625.  They also scored on 24-of-63 field goals for a .381 percentage.  The Crimson Hawks totaled 17 assists and 50 rebounds, with 33 of those grabs being on the defensive side.  Other defensive team statistics include six steals and three blocks. 
 
IUP returns to action Saturday when they host the Gannon Golden Knights at the KCAC for a 7:00 p.m. tipoff.