GAMEDAY CENTRAL
IUP Crimson Hawks (5-3, 2-2 PSAC)
at Shippensburg Raiders (5-1, 3-1 PSAC)
Friday, December 4, 2015 | 5:30 p.m.
Heiges Field House | Shippensburg, Pa.

at Kutztown Golden Bears (4-2, 2-2 PSAC)
Saturday, December 5, 2015 | 2 p.m.
Keystone Arena | Kutztown, Pa.

Full Game Notes (PDF)
Live Stats: ShipRaiders.com | Fan Stats | Media Stats
Live Stats: KUBears.com | Fan Stats | Media Stats
Listen: WQMU 92.5 FM | u92radio.com
Live Updates: Twitter | @IUP_WBB

THE GAMES AT A GLANCE
The Crimson Hawks head to the eastern side of the state this weekend to face Shippensburg and Kutztown in a pair of PSAC crossover games on Friday and Saturday. Friday night's game against the Raiders will tipoff at 5:30 p.m. while the game Saturday against the Golden Bears carries a 2 p.m. start time. IUP enters the weekend with a 5-3 overall record and a 2-2 mark in the PSAC after an 81-66 loss on the road at Gannon on Tuesday night. Shippensburg is 5-1 this year and leads the Eastern Division with a 3-1 conference record. The Raiders own the PSAC's top scoring offense with 74.8 points per game. Kutztown is 4-2 overall and 2-2 in the league and has a scoring margin of +11.5. 

The games will be broadcast on WQMU 92.5 FM with the voice of IUP Athletics, Jack Benedict, calling the action. You can also listen on u92radio.com and on the u92radio app on your smartphone. 

LESLIE STAPLETON INCHING CLOSER TO 1,000-POINT MILESTONE
R-Sr. G Leslie Stapleton (Indiana, Pa. /Indiana) is getting closer to the career 1,000-point milestone after scoring 16 points at Gannon on Tuesday. At her current pace, Stapleton will reach the mark on Dec. 16 against California (Pa.). She's looking to become the 21st player in program history to reach 1,000 career points, including the third in the past two seasons (Lindsay Stamp (Erie, Pa. /Mercyhurst Prep), Ashley Stoner (Pittsburgh, Pa. /Thomas Jefferson) in 2014-15). Her season total is now up to 133 as she's averaging a career-best 16.6 points per game. 

STAPLETON IS ONE OF TOP THREE-POINT SHOOTERS IN PROGRAM HISTORY
Stapleton has a career .393 three-point percentage, which is currently second all-time in school history behind Lacey Claar's (2007-11) .395 percentage. With four three-pointers on Tuesday, she moved out of a fourth place tie and into sole possession of third place with 173 career threes. She's now 11 away from tying former teammate Marita Mathe (Indiana, Pa. /Indiana) (2011-15) for second place at 184 and 42 shy of Claar's program record of 215.  

STAPLETON RANKS SIXTH IN THE PSAC IN SCORING
Stapleton has taken to her senior role as IUP's main offensive threat as she's currently ranked sixth in the PSAC in scoring with 16.7 points per game. She's led the Crimson Hawks in scoring five times and has six double-digit scoring games in seven contests this year. Her 26 points against West Chester set a new career-high. 

IUP LEADS THE PSAC WEST IN SCORING, RANKS NEAR THE TOP IN SHOOTING PERCENTAGES
The Crimson Hawks are one of the best offensive teams in the conference, ranking second in the PSAC - and first in the division - with a 73.6 scoring average. IUP has scored 75 or more points four times in eight games, including 88 against East Stroudsburg and 82 against Saint Augustine's. IUP is also second in the PSAC (first in the West) with a 44.6 field goal percentage and fourth in the league with a 37.2 three point field goal percentage. 

IUP HAS FEATURED BALANCED SCORING THIS YEAR
The Crimson Hawks have a balanced scoring attack, with three players averaging in double-figures while five score at least 5.5 points per game. Five different players have led IUP in scoring at least once this year while seven have hit double-figures in scoring at least once. See IUP Player Highlights on page three for more details.

FOUR FRESHMEN OFF TO SUCCESSFUL STARTS TO THEIR CAREERS
IUP has three true freshmen - G Carolyn Appleby (Greensburg, Pa. /Greensburg Central Catholic) and Fs Kendall Hunter (Burke, Va. /Paul VI Catholic) and Brittany Robinson (Harrisburg, Pa. /Central Dauphin East) - along with redshirt G Courteney Storm (Hollidaysburg, Pa. /Hollidaysburg), who have received valuable playing time in their first year on the court. Together they average 18.2 points and 10.6 rebounds per game.   

CRIMSON HAWKS ARE ONE OF THE TOP SHOT-BLOCKING TEAMS IN THE CONFERENCE
A new facet to IUP's game this year has been the blocked shot, as the Crimson Hawks have 41 in eight games and are second in the PSAC with 5.13 per contest. IUP has at least three blocks in each game this year and have swatted away six or more on three ocassions. Individually, Fr. F Brittany Robinson (Harrisburg, Pa. /Central Dauphin East) and So. F Megan Smith (Blain, Pa./West Perry) are both tied for second in the PSAC with 14 blocks and tied for third with 1.8 blocks per game. 

IUP AGAIN DISHING IT OUT AT A HIGH FREQUENCY 
The Crimson Hawks are second in the PSAC with 17.63 assists per game, dishing out at least 21 on three different occasions. Four players have at least 16 this season, led by Sr. G Marina Wareham who has 33 and is averaging 4.1 per game. IUP wrapped up last year third in the NCAA with 18.6 assists per game and set a program record for single season assists with 538. 

TOM McCONNELL'S 43 WINS IN FIRST TWO YEARS TIED FOR BEST TWO-YEAR START IN PROGRAM HISTORY
McConnell had a 43-14 record in his first two seasons on the bench for the Crimson Hawks, highlighted by last year's 25-4 record. The 43 wins over his first two years is tied for the most of an coach in program history, joining Jeff Dow (2008-10) and Cindy Martin (2005-07). McConnell's .753 winning percentage in his first two years is better than both Martin (.705) and Dow (.729).