GameDay Central
No. 7 IUP Crimson Hawks (23-2, 19-2 PSAC)
Clarion Golden Eagles (2-24, 1-10 PSAC)
Wednesday, February 25, 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
The No. 7 Crimson Hawks can wrap up their first PSAC West title since 2008 with a win over Clarion in the KCAC during Senior Night on Wednesday.  When these two teams met earlier this season, the Crimson Hawks earned an 85-56 victory over the Golden Eagles.  Currently, IUP holds the top spot in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Western Division, with a 19-2 conference record.  Clarion is at the bottom of the division with a PSAC record of 1-10.  In the all-time series, IUP leads 50-22.  

LAST TIME OUT
Last Saturday, IUP improved their overall record to 23-2 with a 88-56 victory over the Pitt-Johnstown Lady Cats.  The victory was backed by Sr. G Lindsay Stamp (Erie, Pa. /Mercyhurst Prep) who posted a season-high 32 points, and Jr. F Zhane Brooks (Erie, Pa. /Villa Maria) who finished with a double-double in her first start of the season.  

WHAT'S NEXT
Next Tuesday, March 3, the Crimson Hawks will host the PSAC Quarterfinals at the KCAC.  Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.

SENIOR SENDOFF
Prior to tipoff, the Crimson Hawks will recognize five players who have driven IUP to exellence over the past four years - Sr. F Ashley Stoner (Pittsburgh, Pa. /Thomas Jefferson), Stamp, Sr. G Marita Mathe (Indiana, Pa. /Indiana), Sr. G Lisa Burton (Pittsburgh, Pa. /Penn Hills) and Sr. G Amy Fairman (Creekside, Pa. /Marion Center). These five Crimson Hawks have helped lead IUP to three post-season berths and 87 wins.  

ROAD TO THE PSAC CHAMPIONSHIP
Saturday, the PSAC tournament will commence with the playing of the first round.  With their 19-2 conference record, the Crimson Hawks have secured a bye.  The team will return to the court Tuesday, March 3, for the Quarterfinals.  

Other teams to make it into the tournament are:  California, Gannon, Edinboro, Bloomsburg, West Chester, Shippensburg, Lock Haven, East Stroudsburg and Kutztown.  

NATIONAL ATTENTION
With their 23-2 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. 9 to No. 7 in the USA TODAY poll.   In the D2SIDA poll, the Crimson Hawks improved from No. 13 to No. 9.  

IN THE WESTERN DIVISION
Last week's victories over Slippery Rock and Pitt-Johsntown, paired with a California (Pa.) loss to Gannon, the Crimson Hawks have moved into 1st place in the PSAC Western Division.  Cal has moved into 2nd place, followed by Gannon in 3rd and Edinboro 4th.  

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 last 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
After posting a season-high 32 points last Saturday, Stamp earned her fifth PSAC West Athlete of the Week title, released Monday.  Over the span of two games, the guard averaged 29 points and 6.5 rebounds in wins over SRU and UPJ.  

LOOKING TOWARDS 1,000
Guard Mathe goes into Saturday's game just 44 points shy of the 1,000 career-points mark.  This season, the senior averages 9.2 PPG, with a season-best of 21.  Mathe has one more regular season game 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 20.1 PPG, and owns a 48.3 FG% after connecting on 189-391 shots from the field.  Also 1st on the team with 8.3 RPG, she is second with 16 total blocks, and has added 35 steals.  

SEEING DOUBLE
Stoner earned her most recent double-double against Edinboro with 24 points and 10 rebounds  This marked 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 2.3 per-game.  This statistic places her at 4th in the conference, and ranks her 50th in the NCAA.  

FROM BEHIND THE ARC
R-Jr. G Leslie Stapleton (Indiana, Pa. /Indiana) has connected on 44-114 three-pointers, giving her a 38.6 3FG%.  Currently, Stapleton, Stamp and Mathe each sit in the top 10 in the 
conference for three-pointers per-game. Stamp holds 5th place with 2.0 3FGs per-game, followed closely by Mathe at 8th with 1.9 and Stapleton in 10th with 1.8.

MATHE WITH THE ASSIST
Dishing out 18.60 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 1.27, an 8th place NCAA ranking.  

Leading the team in assists is Mathe who averages 7.2 APG, and owns a 2.7 assist/turnover ratio.  She holds the top spot for her assists per-game in the conference, 24th in the nation.  Her 2.7 assist/TO ratio places her at 2nd in the PSAC, 3rd in the nation.

SCOUTING CLARION
The Clarion Golden Eagles come into Wednesday's game 2-24, the 9th place team in the PSAC Western Division.  The Golden Eagles average just 56.0 PPG, compared to their opponents 71.5 PPG.  The team shoots 37.9% from the field, 31.1% from behind the arc, and 67.1% from the foul line.  As a team, Clarion has recorded an average 17.4 turnovers per-game.  Offensively, the team is led by Jr. G Tania Holmes with 15.5 PPG and 5.0 RPG.  Following Holmes is So. G Delrika Jones-Carey with 12.2 PPG. On the defensive side of the ball, Holmes has grabbed 60 total steals, followed by starter Fr. F Amesha Harden-Pullium with 40.  Leading in blocks is reserve So. F Jen Straw with 24.