GameDay Central 
No. 13 IUP Crimson Hawks (20-2, 16-2 PSAC) 
at Edinboro Fighting Scots (17-6, 14-5 PSAC) 
Saturday, February 14, 2015 | 1:00 p.m. 
McComb Fieldhouse | Edinboro, Pa.  

IUP Game Notes (PDF)
Live Stats: GoFightingScots.com | Fan Stats | Media Stats
Live Audio: WQMU 92.5 FM | u92radio.com


THE GAME
Saturday, the No. 13 Crimson Hawks finish up their three-game string of road matches as they travel to Edinboro.  Currently, IUP sits in second place in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Western Division, with a 16-2 conference recrod.  The Fighting Scots are 14-5 in the division, placing them at No. 4.  In the all-time series, Edinboro leads IUP 46-35.  Earlier this season, the Crimson Hawks defeated the fighting scots at the Kovalchick Complex 86-60.  
  
LAST TIME OUT
Wednesday, IUP got back on track with their second consecutive win after being handed their second loss of the season the week before.  The Crimson Hawks pulled out an 81-59 victory over the Mercyhurst Lakers, with three players posting double-figures in scoring.  

WHAT'S NEXT
After being on the road for more than one week, the Crimson Hawks will finally return to the Kovalchick Complex Wednesday, February 18th, to host Slippery Rock.  Earlier this season, IUP breezed by SRU 73-48.  Tipoff is set for 5:30 p.m. 

ROAD TO THE PSAC CHAMPIONSHIP
Last week, PSAC playoff berths were handed out.  Four teams from the western division clinched spots, in addition to two eastern teams.  

In the west, IUP, California, Gannon and Edinboro have earned spots in the upcoming tournament.  On the eastern side, Bloomsburg and Wester Chester are the only two teams to secure placement. 

NATIONAL ATTENTION
With their 20-2 record, the Crimson Hawks have been recognized in two national polls - 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.  In the D2SIDA poll, the Crimson Hawks fell 20 spots, from No. 5 to No. 25. 

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 keeping Gannon at third, followed by Edinboro at fourth.  

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.  

PREVIOUSLY WITH EDINBORO
Earlier this season, the Crimson Hawks grabbed an 86-60 victory when facing the Fighting Scots.  The night ended with Sr. G Lindsay Stamp (Erie, Pa. /Mercyhurst Prep), Sr. F Ashley Stoner (Pittsburgh, Pa. /Thomas Jefferson) and R-Jr. Leslie Stapleton (Indiana, Pa. /Indiana) all posting double-figure points, including a game-high 22 by Stamp.  

THE LEADER
IUP leans on Stamp, the best all-around player for the Crimson Hawks.  She tops the team with 19.6 PPG, and owns a 46.9 FG% after connecting on 160-341 shots from the field.  Also 1st on the team with 8.7 RPG, she is second with 11 total blocks, and has added 26 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 (Pittsburgh, Pa. /Thomas Jefferson) 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
Stapleton has connected on 38-100 three-pointers, giving her a 38.0 3FG%.  Currently, Stapleton, Stamp and Sr. G Marita Mathe (Indiana, Pa. /Indiana) 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 20 games, Jr. G Zhane Brooks (Erie, Pa. /Villa Maria) is third on the team with 5.5 RPG.  She ranks behind the five starters in points, with an average of 6.3 PPG.

FUTURE OF THE HAWKS
The future is looking bright for IUP with three freshmen seeing playing time in almost every game this season.  Fr. G Monica Burns (New Stanton, Pa. /Hempfield ) currently owns a 92.3 FT% and sees an average 6.6 MPG, with Fr. G Halle Denman (Beaver Falls, Pa. /Blackhawk) adding 6-13 shots from the field.  Fr. F Megan Smith (Blain, Pa./West Perry) has seen action off the bench in 18 competitions, recording 33 total points and 10 blocks.  

SCOUTING EDINBORO
The 7-16 Edinboro Fighting Scots come into Saturday's game as the No. 4 team in the PSAC Western Division.  The Fighting Scots average 70.4 PPG, a 7th place PSAC ranking.  Up to this point in the season, Edinboro owns a 43.6% from the field, in addition to their 39.4% from behind the arc.  In the conference, the Fighting Scots sit in second place, just behind IUP, for their FG%, and in first place for their 3FG%.  Offensively, the team is led by Jr. F Aingee Freeland who posts an average 14.6 PPG, in addition to 7.3 RPG.  Jr. G Lauren Hippo has tallied 12.6 PPG, with Gr. G Laurel Lindsay adding 12.3 PPG.