INDIANA, Pa. – Seniors Leslie Stapleton (Indiana, Pa. /Indiana) and Zhané Brooks both scored in double figures as IUP used a strong fourth quarter to down Gannon, 53-47 on Saturday at the Kovalchik Complex.

As the Crimson Hawks and Gannon struggled from the field – both teams shot under 37 percent – IUP relied on timely three-pointers and strong defense to secure the win. The Crimson Hawks are now 15-4 overall and 12-4 in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West, moving back into a tie atop the division with California (Pa.). Gannon, who entered the game in a three-way tie with IUP and Cal, drops to 13-7 overall and 11-5 in the PSAC.

Gannon jumped out to an early 6-0 lead before Stapleton swished home her first of four 3-pointers of the night almost four minutes into the game. The Golden Knights led by seven, 12-5, with 3:41 left in the quarter before IUP rallied to tie the game at 14 heading into the second quarter.

Neither team could get any real separation, as IUP took a one-point lead into halftime and Gannon outscored the Crimson Hawks by one in the third quarter. Brooks came out of the locker room on fire, scoring the team's first six points in the back-and-forth affair.
In the fourth, Megan Smith (Blain, Pa./West Perry) and Stapleton hit three-pointers to put IUP up by three points. Free throws down the stretch by Alexis Aiken (Pittsburgh, Pa. /North Allegheny) and Stapleton sealed the victory.

Stapleton finished the game with 17 points on 5-of-12 shooting, while Brooks had 14 points, five rebounds and five assists. Halle Denman (Beaver Falls, Pa. /Blackhawk), in a career-high 30 minutes, provided seven points, four rebounds, two blocks, two steals and added her ball-handling abilities against the Gannon full-court zone pressure.

IUP returns to action Wednesday at Mercyhurst before returning home Saturday against Edinboro.

For up-to-date game information, visit www.IUPAthletics.com and follow IUP Women's Basketball on Twitter @IUPCrimsonHawk and @IUP_WBB.