CALIFORNIA, Pa. – Even with four Crimson Hawks posting double-figures in scoring, it was not enough to help IUP defeat the Shepherd Rams in the first round of the NCAA Atlantic Regional Friday in California, Pa.  The final buzzer sounded leaving the Crimson Hawks on the bottom end of a 68-60 final score. 
 
This game marked IUP's 9th NCAA tournament appearance, with their last coming in the 2012-13 season.  The Crimson Hawks earned the second seed in the NCAA Atlantic Region after winning the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Western Division with a 20-2 conference record, in arguably one of the best seasons in program history. 
 
The IUP offense was led by Ashley Stoner (Pittsburgh, Pa. /Thomas Jefferson) who finished the night with 14 points and eight total boards.  She was followed closely by fellow senior Amy Fairman (Creekside, Pa. /Marion Center) with 13 points, five rebounds and three steals. 
 
The game was a constant back-and-forth battle, with IUP holding the lead for 13 minutes and the Rams leading for 21 minutes.  The Crimson Hawks dominated the first five minutes of play fueled by Lindsay Stamp (Erie, Pa. /Mercyhurst Prep), who put the first points on the board with a layup.  By the 15 minute mark, IUP was ahead 11-6. 
 
Over the next two minutes, the Rams caught up and surpassed IUP, taking a 13-11 lead, which they fought to hold onto for most of the remaining 13 minutes.  By halftime, the Crimson Hawks headed into the locker room behind Shepherd, 29-28.    
 
About halfway through the second half, IUP had taken back the lead and held Shepherd off by three points when the momentum shifted.  A three-pointer by Shepherd's Rachel Johnson tied the game up at 41 apiece, and just two minutes later the Rams took a 43-41 lead. 
 
IUP took the lead back just once more with 7:52 on the clock, but two free throws by the Rams pushed the Crimson Hawks behind. 
 
Fouls played a huge role in the game, with IUP recording a team total 21, and four different players each committing four personal fouls against Shepherd.  
 
Leslie Stapleton (Indiana, Pa. /Indiana) finished the game with 12 points, in addition to her five boards.  Stamp came up short of her 11th double-double of the season with 11 points and just nine rebounds. 
 
As a team, IUP shot 32.3% from the field, sinking only 20-of-62 shots, with eight coming from behind the arc.  At the foul line, the Crimson Hawks were 12-for-24. 
 
The Crimson Hawks finished this season as the top team in the PSAC Western Division, and a 25-3 overall record. 
 
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