Box Score ERIE, PA - Three Crimson Hawks posted double-figure points in Wednesday night's 81-59 win over the Lakers at Mercyhurst.
Lindsay Stamp (Erie, Pa. /Mercyhurst Prep) led the team in scoring with 13 points, followed by
Marita Mathe (Indiana, Pa. /Indiana) and
Zhane Brooks (Erie, Pa. /Villa Maria) with 10 each.
The setting was familiar for Stamp who played for the Lakers during her freshman year. While at Mercyhurst, the guard averaged 10 points per-game, and scored a high 28 points off the bench in her second collegiate matchup.
Stamp and
Ashley Stoner (Pittsburgh, Pa. /Thomas Jefferson) each sank layups in the first minute of play to set the Crimson Hawks off to a 4-0 lead. By the 15 minute mark, IUP was on a 7-0 run and led the Lakers by 10 points, 14-4. The No. 13 Crimson Hawks pushed forward and held off Mercyhurst by at least 10 points for over 12 minutes in the first half.
During the first 20 minutes, IUP shot 53.3% from the field, sinking 16-of-30 shots. From behind the arc, the team made 5-of-9 three-pointers, and the Crimson Hawks went into the locker room at halftime leading the Lakers 46-24.
The second half went by much like the first, with IUP holding onto the lead the entire 20 minutes of play. With such a large scoring gap, eight Crimson Hawks were able to see action off the bench.
Natalie Piaggesi and Angela Heintz fought hard for the Lakers, with each guard posting a 20-point game, but Mercyhurst couldn't compete with the IUP defense. By the end of the night, the Crimson Hawks had grabbed 10 steals and 26 defensive rebounds, in addition to four blocks. Last Wednesday, IUP committed a season-high 28 turnovers against rival California, but tonight the team only recorded 14.
In addition to Stamp, Mathe and Brooks, three other players came close to reaching double-digits.
Leslie Stapleton (Indiana, Pa. /Indiana) finished the game with nine points after going 2-of-3 from the field and 4-for-4 from the foul line.
Amy Fairman (Creekside, Pa. /Marion Center) and reserve
Marina Wareham (New Wilmington, Pa. /Kennedy Catholic) each tallied eight points.
Stoner and Brooks led the team in boards with seven each, with Fairman posting a team-high three steals.
The Crimson Hawks ended the game with a 44.3 field-goal percentage, compared to Mercyhurst's 35.1%.
Tuesday, it was announced that IUP had dropped from No. 5 to No. 13 in the USA TODAY Top 25. This ranking came after the Crimson Hawks were handed their second loss of the season by the California Vulcans last week.
IUP bounced back, however, and their win over Mercyhurst boosted their record to 20-2, 16-2 in the Pennslvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC). Currently, the team sits in second place in the PSAC Western Division, and has clinched a conference playoff berth.
The Crimson Hawks complete their trail of three consecutive road games Saturday when they travel to Edinboro. Tipoff against the Fighting Scots is set for 1:00 p.m.
