INDIANA, PA – Fueled by Ashley Stoner (Pittsburgh, Pa. /Thomas Jefferson) and Lindsay Stamp (Erie, Pa. /Mercyhurst Prep) each earning 20-point games, the No. 9 IUP Crimson Hawks battled Slippery Rock for an 86-77 victory on Pink Night, Wednesday at the Kovalchick Complex. 
 
The win improved IUP's record to 22-2, 18-2 in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC).  Currently, the Crimson Hawks sit in second place in the PSAC Western Division, and tonight's victory clinched the first round bye in the upcoming PSAC tournament. 
 
Stamp led the team in scoring throughout the entire game, and finished the night with 26 points, just shy of her season-high 28.  She sunk 10-of-18 from the field, with six coming from long range.  In addition, she posted a team-best seven boards. 
 
Coming alive in the second half, Stoner finished the game with 21 points, her fourth 20-point game of the season.  In her 32 minutes on the court, the senior shot 10-of-15 from the field and added two blocks. 
 
The first half proved to be no problem for the No. 9 Crimson Hawks.  Amy Fairman (Creekside, Pa. /Marion Center) hit a three-pointer just 10 seconds into the game, and IUP held onto that lead throughout the entire 20 minutes.  The largest scoring deficit was 17 points, when the Crimson Hawks led Slippery Rock 31-14 at the 9:38 minute mark. 
 
By halftime, IUP was holding strong to a 46-34 lead. 
 
The Crimson Hawks held off Slippery Rock by at least 10 points during the first seven minutes of the second half, but then SRU began to fight back.  D'Asia Chambers and Taylor Sigger fueled Slippery Rock's team, each posting double-figure points in the second half alone. 
 
By the 8 minute mark, the score was tied up at 62-62.  Stoner then tallied back-to-back layups putting IUP back in the lead, and the team ran with it until the buzzer sounded at the end of the matchup. 
 
Starter Marita Mathe (Indiana, Pa. /Indiana) finished the game 3-of-8 from behind the arc and 3-of-6 from the foul line, totaling 12 points.  In addition, the guard added six rebounds and five assists.  
 
Zhane Brooks (Erie, Pa. /Villa Maria) recorded 12 points in her 26 minutes off the bench for IUP, plus six rebounds and six assists.  Not to be overlooked is Leslie Stapleton (Indiana, Pa. /Indiana) who added nine points and six boards. 
 
With their 22-2 record, the Crimson Hawks have found themselves in third place in the Atlantic Region as the first regional rankings were announced Wednesday afternoon.  Ranked 9^th in the country, IUP sits behind Livingston and California (Pa.) in the Atlantic.  The top eight teams in each eight regions will qualify for the NCAA tournament in March. 
 
The Crimson Hawks will travel to Pitt-Johnstown Saturday for their last road game of the season at 1:00 p.m.  IUP will then return to the Kovalchick Complex next Wednesday, February 25, to host Clarion on Senior Night.