GameDay Central
No. 9 IUP Crimson Hawks (21-2, 17-2 PSAC)
Slippery Rock (10-13, 6-13 PSAC)
Wednesday, February 18, 2015  |  5:30 p.m. 
Indiana, Pa.  |  Kovalchick Complex

IUP Game Notes (PDF)
Live Stats:  IUPAthletics.com  |  Fan Stats  |  Media Stats
Live Audio: WQMU 92.5 FM  |  U92radio.com
Live Video: IUP - TV  |  BackLightTv.com


THE GAME
Wednesday, the Crimson Hawks return to the Kovalchick Complex after being on the road for three consecutive games.  IUP is set to host Slippery Rock in their second matchup of the season.  Currently, IUP sits in second place in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Western Division, with a 17-2 conference record.  Slippery Rock is 6-13 in the conference, placing them at No. 6.  In the all-time series, IUP leads 44-36.  Earlier this season, IUP cruised by SRU 73-45 on the road.  Over the last seven seasons, the Crimson Hawks hold a 14-0 record over Slippery Rock.  

LAST TIME OUT
Last Saturday, IUP earned another win over the Fighting Scots.  This 91-81 victory over Edinboro was a battle, but five Crimson Hawks posted double-figure points helping IUP improve their record to 21-2.  

WHAT'S NEXT
The Crimson Hawks will ship out again Saturday when they travel to Pitt-Johnstown to face the Lady Cats.  Earlier this season, UPJ fell to IUP at the Kovalchick Complex 79-60.  Saturday's tipoff is set for 1:00 p.m. 

ROAD TO THE PSAC CHAMPIONSHIP
Two weeks ago, 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 21-2 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 moved from No. 13 to No. 9 in the USA TODAY poll.   In the D2SIDA poll, the Crimson Hawks improved from No. 25 to No. 13.  

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 being handed their second loss of the season to the Vulcans, the Crimson Hawks dropped to No. 2 in the PSAC Western Division.  Prior to the loss, IUP had been sitting in the top slot for two weeks.  The team's last three consecutive wins have allowed them to hold onto 2nd place, while keeping Gannon and Edinboro at bay.  

REGIONAL RANKINGS
This week, IUP improved to No. 2 in the D2SIDA Atlantic Regional rankings, released Monday.  Last week, the Crimson Hawks had been ranked at No. 4 after spending two weeks at No. 1.  The Crimson Hawks now sit behind California in 1st place.  

ON TOP OF THE CONFERENCE
Sr. G Marita Mathe (Indiana, Pa. /Indiana) was named the PSAC Western Division Women's Basketball Athlete of the Week, announced Monday.  This honor comes for Mathe after she averaged 15 points and 4.5 assists in last week's games.  This is the fifth conference player of the week honor for IUP this season, with Sr. G Lindsay Stamp (Erie, Pa. /Mercyhurst Prep) earning the other four.

THE LEADER
IUP leans on Stamp, the best all-around player for the Crimson Hawks.  She tops the team with 19.3 PPG, and owns a 47.3 FG% after connecting on 167-353 shots from the field.  Also 1st on the team with 8.4 RPG, she is second with 13 total blocks, and has added 27 steals.  

SEEING DOUBLE
Sr. F Ashley Stoner (Pittsburgh, Pa. /Thomas Jefferson) finished last week's matchup with Edinboro with 24 points and 10 rebounds, earning her fifth double-
double of the season.  In addition to Stoner, Stamp has also posted eight double-
doubles this season.  Her most recent came against Gannon with 25 points and 13 rebounds.  

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 45th in the NCAA.  

FROM BEHIND THE ARC
R-Jr. G Leslie Stapleton (Indiana, Pa. /Indiana) has connected on 42-107 three-pointers, giving her a 39.3 3FG%.  Currently, Stapleton, Stamp and Mathe each sit in the top 10 in the conference for three-pointers per-game.   Mathe holds 6th place with 1.9 3FGs per-game, followed by Stapleton in 7th with 1.8.  Stamp sits in 10th place with 1.7 3FGs per-game.  

MATHE WITH THE ASSIST
Dishing out 18.91 APG has earned IUP a top spot in the conference and a third place ranking in the NCAA.  The Crimson Hawks also hold 1st place in the PSAC with an assist/turnover ratio of 1.30, a 5th place NCAA ranking.  

Leading the team in assists is Mathe who averages 5.1 APG, and owns a 2.9 assist/turnover ratio.  She holds the top spot for her assist/turnover ratio in the conference, 3rd in the nation.  Her 5.1 APG places her at 2nd in the PSAC.  

OFF THE BENCH
Seeing action off the bench in 21 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 6.4 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 SLIPPERY ROCK
The 10-13 Slippery Rock team comes into Wednesday's game after finishing 3-2 in their last five matchups.  SRU averages 65.0 points per-game, shooting 38.8% from the field, 25.9% from behind the arc and 73.6% from the foul line.  Offensively, the team is led by Sr. G D'Asia Chambers who posts 16.4 PPG and 9.9 PPG.  Chambers has led Slippery Rock in scoring a total 15 times this season.  Another high-scorer for SRU is Jr. G Taylor Siggers with 11.2 PPG.  Defensively, the team averages 3.3 blocks per-game and 8.0 steals per-game, with Chambers posting 39 steals and Sr. F Danielle Garroutte adding 17 blocks.