No.13 IUP Crimson Hawks (19-2, 15-2 PSAC)
at Mercyhurst Lakers (8-16, 5-13 PSAC)
Wednesday, February 11, 2015  |  5:30 p.m.  
Erie, Pa.  |  Mercyhurst Athletic Center

IUP Game Notes (PDF)
Live Stats:  HurstAthletics.com  |  Fan Stats 
Live Audio: WQMU 92.5 FM  |  U92radio.com

THE GAME
Wednesday, the No. 13 Crimson Hawks continue on their three-game string of road matches as they travel to Mercyhurst. Currently, IUP sits in second place in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Western Division, with a conference record of 15-2. The Lakers are down in eighth place with a 5-13 PSAC record. In the all-time series, the Crimson Hawks lead 17-4 over Mercyhurst. Last year, IUP finished 1-1 with the Lakers, after being handed their fourth loss of the season by Mercyhurst. The Crimson Hawks rebounded, however, and defeated Mercyhurst 83-63 in Indiana. Earlier this season, IUP was victorious over Mercyhurst, 65-45.

LAST TIME OUT
Saturday, the Crimson Hawks bounced back from their second loss of the season with a 74-53 win over the Gannon Golden Knights. Gannon, California and IUP have been in a race for first place in the PSAC Western Division all season, and Saturday's victory allowed the Crimson Hawks to hold onto second place. Sr. G
Lindsay Stamp (Erie, Pa. /Mercyhurst Prep) and Sr. G Marita Mathe (Indiana, Pa. /Indiana) led the team with a combined 40 points. In addition, Stamp earned her eighth double-double of the season with 25 points and 13 rebounds.

WHAT'S NEXT
Saturday, February 14, the Crimson Hawks will compete in their third consecutive roadgame when they travel to Edinboro for a matchup with the Fighting Scots. Earlier this season, IUP found an 86-60 victory over Edinboro at the Kovalchick Complex.

ROAD TO THE PSAC CHAMPIONSHIP
Wednesday, it was announced that six PSAC teams have clinched PSAC Tournament Berths. Four teams from the western division are in, in addition to two eastern teams. In the West, IUP, California, Gannon and Edinboro have earned spots in the tournament. Bloomsburg and West Chester are the only two teams to earn berths from the east.

NATIONAL ATTENTION
With their 19-2 record, the Crimson Hawks have been recognized in two national rankings - the USA TODAY WBCA Coaches Poll and the Division II Media Poll sponsored by D2SIDA. This week, IUP dropped to No. 13, after holding the No. 5 spot for two consecutive weeks in the WBCA poll.

PROGRAM HISTORY
This season is setting records in IUP history, inclduing the best national ranking IUP has received since the 2007-2008 season. That year, the 18-1 Crimson Hawks were ranked at No. 5, and went on to win the second in a string of three consecutive PSAC championships.

IN THE WESTERN DIVISION
After last week's loss to the California Vulcans, the Crimson Hawks fell to No. 2 in the PSAC Western Division. IUP had been sitting in the top slot for two weeks, holding off Gannon and California. Saturday's win against the Golden Knights allowed IUP to hold onto the second place slot, while holding Gannon off at third.

REGIONAL RANKINGS
This week, IUP dropped to No. 4 in the D2SIDA Atlantic Regional rankings, released Monday, after spending two consecutive weeks at No. 1. The Crimson Hawks now sit behind California in first place, Livingstone (N.C) in second, and Bloomsburg in third.

THE LEADER
IUP leans on Stamp, the best all-around player for the Crimson Hawks. She tops the team with 19.9 PPG, and owns a 47.0 FG% after connecting on 155-330 shots from the field. Also 1st on the team with 8.9 RPG, she is second with 11 total blocks, and has added 25 steals.

SEEING DOUBLE
Stamp finished last week's matchup with Gannon with 25 points and 13 rebounds, earning her eighth double-double of the season. In addition to Stamp, Sr. F Ashley Stoner has posted four this year. Her most recent came against Seton Hill with 17 points and 15 boards.

STEALING THE SHOW
Sr. G Amy Fairman (Creekside, Pa. /Marion Center) leads IUP in steals with 2.5 per-game. This statistic places her at 4th in the conference, and ranks her 39th in the NCAA.

FROM BEHIND THE ARC
R-Jr. G Leslie Stapleton (Indiana, Pa. /Indiana) has connected on 37-98 three-pointers, giving her a 37.8 3FG%. Currently, Stapleton, Stamp and Mathe each sit in the top 10 in the conference for three-pointers per-game. Mathe and Stapleton each own 1.8 per-game, with Stamp recording 1.9, on average.

MATHE WITH THE ASSIST
Dishing out 19.19 APG has earned IUP a top spot in the conference and a third place ranking in the NCAA. The Crimson Hawks also hold first place in the PSAC with an assist/turnover ratio of 1.32, a 5th place NCAA ranking.

Leading the team in assists is Mathe who averages 5.2 APG, and owns a 2.8 assist/ turnover ratio. She holds the top spot for her assist/turnover ratio in the conference, 3rd in the nation. Her 5.2 APG places her at 2nd in the PSAC.

OFF THE BENCH
Seeing action off the bench in 19 games, Jr. G Zhane Brooks (Erie, Pa. /Villa Maria) is third on the team with 5.4 RPG. She ranks behind the five starters in points, with an average of 6.1 PPG. Also making a splash is Fr. F Megan Smith (Blain, Pa./West Perry). Smith has played in 17 games, and has 2.2 RPG, in addition to 10 blocks.

SCOUTING MERCYHURST
The 8-16 Mercyhurst Lakers come into Wednesday's game desperately looking for a win. Currently, the Lakers sit in eighth place in the western division with a PSAC record of 5-13. As a team, Mercyhurst averages just 63.4 PPG. The team has shot 42.3% from the field, and averages 5.8 three-pointers per-game. In addition, the Lakers own a 16.6 turnover average. Individually, So. G Natalie Piaggesi leads the team with 14.5 PPG, 7.0 RPG, with 55 blocks and 26 steals. She is followed by Jr. G Adrienne Kloecker with 11.9 PPG and 25 steals.