GAMEDAY CENTRAL
IUP Crimson Hawks (12-2, 10-0 PSAC)
vs. Edinboro Fighting Scots (14-2, 10-0 PSAC)
Saturday, January 14, 2017 | 5:30 p.m.
Indiana, Pa. | Kovalchick Complex

Full Game Notes (PDF)
Live Stats: SidearmStats.com | Fan Stats | Media Stats
Listen: WQMU 92.5 FM | u92radio.com
Listen: Smartphone | U92 Sports App
Live Updates: Twitter | @IUP_WBB

THE GAME AT A GLANCE
The Crimson Hawks return home looking for their 13th straight win as they host Edinboro on Saturday night. Tipoff at the Kovalchick Complex is set for 5:30 p.m. It'll be a battle for sole possession of first place in the PSAC West this weekend, as both teams are tied atop the division with identical 10-0 league records. Both teams lost their first two games at season-opening tournaments, before embarking on long winning streaks - Edinboro has won each of its last 14 games while IUP has won 12 in a row. 

The game will be broadcast on WQMU 92.5 FM with the voice of IUP Athletics, Jack Benedict, calling the action. You can also listen on u92radio.com and on the u92radio app on your smartphone.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR
• A win on Saturday would be IUP's 13th straight, and would tie the longest winning streak under HC Tom McConnell in his four years at the helm; The Crimson Hawks won 13 games during the 2014-15 season
• The Crimson Hawks return to their home court, where they boast a 7-0 record this season; In four years under McConnell, IUP is 43-6 at home, with the last loss in Indiana coming to West Chester (92-79) on Nov. 22, 2015
• Edinboro is 5-0 on the road during its 14-game win streak, winning games by an average of 14.4 points
• McConnell has won each of his last five games against Edinboro, and brings a 5-3 record against the Fighting Scots into the weekend; IUP swept last year's season series by a combined 28 points
• Over the last four games, IUP is shooting 79.7 percent (59-74) from the foul line, including a 19-23 performance in the win at Slippery Rock
• Edinboro is second in the PSAC forcing 23.5 turnovers per game, converting those into an average of 23.3 points; The Fighting Scots' 12.4 steals per game ranks 11th in the nation

MCCONNELL, CRIMSON HAWKS ARE 43-6 AT HOME
In four years under HC Tom McConnell, the Crimson Hawks boast a 43-6 record (.878) in home games, including 7-0 this season. Each of those six losses came to PSAC teams, including once to No. 2 ranked Gannon (73-64) during the 2013-14 season.
CRIMSON HAWKS ARE 18-3 IN THE MONTH OF JANUARY SINCE 2015
With Wednesday's win over Millersville, the Crimson Hawks are now 18-3 in the month of January under McConnell since 2015. IUP has posted records of 6-2 (2015-16) and 8-1 (2014-15) in January over the last two seasons.

IUP OUTSCORING OPPONENTS BY MORE THAN 22 POINTS DURING 12-GAME WIN STREAK
The Crimson Hawks are averaging 73.8 points during their current 12-game win streak, more than 22 points  better than their opponents (51.4) over that same span. IUP has had seven blowout wins (20+ points) this season, including last Friday's 95-72 victory at Slippery Rock. The winning streak is the second longest in the McConnell era, behind the 13 straight wins during the 2014-15 season. 

THE IUP DEFENSE AGAIN ONE OF THE BEST IN THE PSAC, DIVISION II IN SEVERAL CATEGORIES
The Crimson Hawks' defense has been a force early this year, as IUP leads the PSAC in points allowed (52.1), opponents' field goal percentage (33.5), and blocked shots per game (5.79). Those also rank near the top nationally, with scoring defense and blocks both fourth, and defensive field goal percentage seventh.

MEGAN SMITH AND BRITTANY ROBINSON THRIVING IN THE POST FOR THE CRIMSON HAWKS
Jr. F Megan Smith (Blain, Pa./West Perry) and So. F Brittany Robinson (Harrisburg, Pa. /Central Dauphin East) give IUP a solid post presence, and over their last four games have combined to average 29.3 points. Smith's big night came at Slippery Rock, where she finished with a career-high 31 points. Robinson followed that with 17 points, seven rebounds, and six blocks at Millersville. 

MAURA D'ANNA NAMED PSAC WEST FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK
Fr. F Maura D'Anna (Springfield, Va./West Springfield) was named the PSAC West Freshman of the Week on Monday, after averaging 9.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, and shooting 61.5 percent from the field in IUP victories over UPJ and Slippery Rock. D'Anna was super productive in limited time off the bench, playing in just 12 minutes in each game, and averaging 31.7 points per 40 minutes last week. She's averaging 5.4 points, 4.1 rebounds, and shooting 50.0 percent for the season.

HALLE DENMAN TIED FOR 2ND IN PSAC WITH 2.9 STEALS PER GAME
Jr. G Halle Denman (Beaver Falls, Pa. /Blackhawk) is having a standout defensive season in her first year as a starter, as she's tied for second in the PSAC with 2.9 steals per game. Denman has at least one steal in each of the last 13 games, and has swiped at least three in seven straight, including a career-high seven against Gannon. She is on pace for more than 70 steals over the course of a 26-game regular season, which would be the most since Jahzinga Tracey had 99 in 2008-09.