GameDay Central
No. 7 IUP Crimson Hawks (24-2, 20-2 PSAC)
Edinboro Fighting Scots (20-7, 16-6 PSAC)
Tuesday, March 3, 2015  |  7:00 p.m. 
Indiana, Pa.  |  Kovalchick Complex

IUP Game Notes (PDF)
Live Stats:  IUPAthletics.com  |  Fan Stats  |  Media Stats
Live Audio: WCCS 1160 AM  |  No webstreaming link available
Live Video: IUP - TV  |  BackLightTv.com

THE GAME
The No. 7 ranked Crimson Hawks return to the Kovalchick Complex Tuesday to host the Edinboro Fighting Scots in the Quarterfinals of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Tournament.  IUP has already grabbed two wins against the Fighting Scots this year.  When the two teams first met in Indiana, the Crimson Hawks came out on top of a 86-60 final score.  The Fighting Scots put up a tough fight when IUP travled to Edinboro in February, but the Crimson Hawks were able to add another 'W' to the win column with a 91-81 final score.  In the all-time series, Edinboro leads IUP 46-34.  

LAST TIME OUT
Last week, the seniors led the charge in IUP's 83-59 conference clinching victory over Clarion.  This victory improved the Crimson Hawks' record to 24-2, 20-2 in the PSAC. 

WHAT'S NEXT
If the Crimson Hawks defeat Edinboro in the Quarterfinals, they will travel to the top seeded east school for the Semifinals and the Championship, March 7th and 8th.  

HOW THEY GOT HERE
IUP's victory over Clarion secured their place at the top of the PSAC Western Divisioin.  This first-place finish was the first the program has seen since the 2008 season.  

THE WEST BRACKET
The top two seeds, IUP (1) and California (2), each earned a bye for the first round of the PSAC tournament.  Saturday, Edinboro (4) defeated Seton Hill (5), and Gannon (3) beat Slippery Rock (6).  In the Quarterfinals, Gannon and Edinboro will each advance to matchup with the top two seeded teams.   

NCAA REGIONAL RANKINGS
IUP moved up to No. 2 in last Wednesday's release of the NCAA Division II regional rankings.  These rankings determine the eight teams from each region that make the field of 64.  New rankings come each week with the bracket announcement coming March 8.  

Livingstone is expected to drop from these rankings altogether, as it was determined by the NCAA that the Blue Bears were playing an ineligible player and will forfeit 18 of their wins this season.  

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

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.  Last week, IUP came in at No. 7 in the USA TODAY poll, and No. 9 in the D2SIDA poll.  

WINNER, WINNER
This season has proved to be record-breaking for the Crimson Hawks.  27 wins is the most in a single season in program history.  In addition, the highest winning percentage recorded in a season was .844, posted in 2007-08 by a 27-5 IUP team.  This year's Crimson Hawks have surpassed that, earning a .923 winning percentage this far. IUP's two losses this season are also the lowest to be recorded since 1971-72 when IUP finished 7-2.  

BREAKING RECORDS BEHIND THE ARC
In last week's game, the Crimson Hawks reached a total 209 made three-pointers this season.  That number set a new single-season record, passing the previous record of 195, which was set last season.  

MATHE ON FIRE
In the region, Sr. G Marita Mathe (Indiana, Pa. /Indiana) remains the only player who averages a high 5.0 assists per-game.  To add, the guard is the only athlete to post a 40.0 3FG%.  

IN THE HISTORY BOOKS
Sr. G Lindsay Stamp (Erie, Pa. /Mercyhurst Prep) remains just one of three players in IUP history to earn 500 points in a single season.  Her 524 points so far this season places her at 5th all-time, setting her just 88 points short of tying the all-time record of 612.  

LOOKING TOWARDS 1,000
Mathe goes into Saturday's game just 38 points shy of the 1,000 career-points mark.  This season, the senior averages 9.1 PPG, with a season-best of 21.  The senior has the remaining PSAC Tournament games to make the mark, in addition to the NCAA Tournament games.  

THE LEADER
IUP leans on Stamp, the best all-around player for the Crimson Hawks.  She tops the team with 20.2 PPG, and owns a 48.4 FG% after connecting on 196-405 shots from the field.  Also 1st on the team with 8.1 RPG, she is second with 17 total blocks, and has added 41 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.  

MATHE WITH THE ASSIST
Dishing out 18.81 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 1.31, an 6th place NCAA ranking.  

Leading the team in assists is Mathe who averages 5.1 APG, and owns a 2.7 assist/turnover ratio.  She holds the No. 2 spot for her assists per-game in the conference, 23rd in the nation.  Her 2.8 assist/TO ratio places her at 2nd in the PSAC, 3rd in the nation.  

SCOUTING EDINBORO
The Edinboro Fighting Scots enter the PSAC Quarterfinals coming off a 68-53 victory over Seton Hill in the first round.  Fighting Scot Gr. G Lauren Hippo led against the Griffins with 17 points, shooting 46% from the field.  So. G Nicole Johnson added 16 points, followed by Jr. F Aingee Freeland with 15.  In the conference, Hippo leads in 3FG% with 45.1.  She is 2nd in three-pointers per-game with 2.6, .6 ahead of IUP's Stamp.  As a team, Edinboro is 2nd in the PSAC with a .442 FG%, and 1st with a .400 3FG%.  Freeland leads the team, offensively, with 14.1 PPG and 7.1 RPG.  Hippo adds 13.3 PPG, with Sr. G Valerie Majewski tallying 13.0.