INDIANA, Pa. – Freshman guard Carolyn Appleby (Greensburg, Pa. /Greensburg Central Catholic) scored a team-high 15 points off the bench and the Crimson Hawks' defense forced 18 Millersville turnovers as the IUP women's basketball team defeated the Marauders 56-45 on Wednesday night at the Kovalchick Complex.
 
It was the sixth consecutive win for the Crimson Hawks, who improved their record to 11-3 overall and remain in second place in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Western Division with an 8-2 league record.
 
The 15 points were a season-high for Appleby, who shot 5-of-8 from the floor, including 3-of-4 from three-point range. She added two assists and a steal playing in a season-high 30 minutes.
 
She was one of three Crimson Hawks who reached double-figures, joined by sophomore guard Megan Smith (Blain, Pa./West Perry) and senior guard Leslie Stapleton (Indiana, Pa. /Indiana) with 13 points each. Smith grabbed six rebounds and had three blocks while Stapleton added seven boards in the full 40 minutes of action.
 
It was the third straight game that IUP has held an opponent under 60 points, limiting Cheyney to 34 and Edinboro to 59. The Crimson Hawks are outscoring opponents by an average of 10.5 points during their current win streak.
 
Millersville (8-5, 5-5 PSAC) held a 13-12 lead after the first quarter, but IUP outscored the Marauders a combined 27-14 during the second and third quarters to take control of the game and take a 12-point lead at 39-27 into the fourth.
 
The Marauders did try to mount a comeback in the final quarter, twice cutting IUP's lead to single digits, but the Crimson Hawks kept them at arm's length to close out the 11-point victory.
 
IUP forced Millersville into a poor shooting night from the floor, as the Marauders shot 35.4 percent, including 2-of-9 from three-point range.
 
The Crimson Hawks were able to get to the foul line often, converting 16-of-23 shots, including 7-of-8 by Smith and 5-of-5 by Stapleton. IUP had another efficient passing night with 14 assists on its 17 made field goals.
 
IUP returns to the court on Saturday afternoon, hosting Slippery Rock (7-7, 4-5 PSAC) at the Kovalchick Complex. Tipoff is set for 1 p.m.
 
 For up-to-date game information, visit www.IUPAthletics.com and follow IUP women's basketball on Twitter @IUPCrimsonHawk and @IUP_WBB.