GameDay Central 
No. 9 IUP Crimson Hawks (22-2, 18-2 PSAC) 
at Pitt-Johnstown (10-14, 7-13 PSAC) 
Saturday, February 21, 2015 | 1:00 p.m. 
Pitt-Johnstown Sports Center | Johnstown, Pa.  

IUP Game Notes (PDF)
Live Stats: PittJohnstownAthletics.com | Fan Stats | Media Stats
Live Audio: WQMU 92.5 FM | u92radio.com
Live Video: Mountain Cat Athletics

THE GAME
Saturday, the No. 9 Crimson Hawks hit the road for their last away matchup of the season at Pitt-Johnstown.  IUP is set to tipoff against the Lady Cats at 1:00 p.m. in their second competition of the season.  When the two teams first met, IUP earned a 79-60 victory over Pitt-Johnstown.  Currently, IUP sits in second place in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Western Division, with an 18-2 conference record.  Pitt-Johnstown is 7-13 in the division, placing them at No. 6.  In the all-time series, the Crimson Hawks trail 34-12.  

LAST TIME OUT
Last Wednesday, IUP earned their second win of the season over Slippery Rock, 86-77.  The victory was fueled by Sr. F Ashley Stoner (Pittsburgh, Pa. /Thomas Jefferson), Sr. G Lindsay Stamp (Erie, Pa. /Mercyhurst Prep), Sr. G Marita Mathe (Indiana, Pa. /Indiana) and Jr. G Zhane Brooks (Erie, Pa. /Villa Maria) who each posted double-figure points.  

WHAT'S NEXT
The Crimson Hawks will return to the Kovalchick Complex Wednesday for their final regular-season game against Clarion.  Earlier this season, IUP defeated the Gold Eagles 85-56.  Tipoff is set for 5:30 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 three eastern teams.  

In the west, IUP, California, Gannon and Edinboro have earned spots in the  
upcoming tournament.  On the eastern side, Bloomsburg, Wester Chester and Lock Haven secured placement. 

NATIONAL ATTENTION
With their 22-2 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.  

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.  

NCAA REGIONAL RANKINGS
The Crimson Hawks were ranked 3rd in the season's first Division II NCAA 
Regional Rankings, which were released by the NCAA Wednesday.  These rankings will determine the eight teams from each region that make the field of 64.  

Atlantic Region Rankings
1.  Livingstone        
2. California (Pa.)
3. IUP            
4. Bloomsburg
5. Charleston (WV)        
6. West Chester
7. Gannon            
8. Fairmont St.
9. Johnson C. Smith        
10. Edinboro

ON TOP OF THE CONFERENCE
Mathe 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.

LOOKING TOWARDS 1,000
Guard Mathe goes into Saturday's game just 51 points shy of the 1,000 career-points mark.  This season, the senior averages 9.3 PPG, with a season-best of 21.  Mathe has two more regular season games to reach the mark, in addition to opportunities in the upcoming PSAC and NCAA tournaments.  

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 47.7 FG% after connecting on 177-371 shots from the field.  Also 1st on the team with 8.4 RPG, she is second with 14 total blocks, and has added 27 steals.  

SEEING DOUBLE
Stoner 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 43-111 three-pointers, giving her a 38.7 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.  

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 11 blocks.  

SCOUTING PITT-JOHNSTOWN
The 10-14 Pitt-Johnstown Lady Cats come into Saturday's matchup averaging 76.5 PPG.  This statistic puts the Lady Cats at 2nd in the PSAC, just behind the Crimson Hawks, who average 78.0 PPG.  Jr. F Jasmine Harper and Sr. G Kelsey Sleighter are in the top five in the conference posting a combined 31.7 PPG.  Harper leads the team in boards with 9.3, followed by Sr. F Nicole Carman with 7.6 PPG.  Pitt-Johnstown shoots 41.5% from the field, 35.1% from long range and 73.0% from the foul line.  On the defensive end, Sleighter leads the team with 25 steals, followed by Harper with 23 and Jr. G Dominique Smith with 21.