GAMEDAY CENTRAL
IUP Crimson Hawks (12-4, 10-2 PSAC)
at Clarion Golden Eagles (11-7, 8-4 PSAC)
Saturday, January 21, 2017 | 1:00 p.m.
Clarion, Pa. | Tippin Gymnasium

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

THE GAME AT A GLANCE
Looking to stop a two-game skid, the Crimson Hawks hit the road this weekend to face off against a surprising Clarion team on Saturday afternoon. Tipoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Tippin Gymnasium. It's the first two-game losing streak for IUP since opening weekend, with a 12-game win streak sandwiched inbetween. The latest loss was a 79-52 defeat at the hands of No. 6 California on Wednesday. Clarion lost to Edinboro on Wednesday, but sits right behind the Crimson Hawks in the PSAC West standings with an 8-4 league record. 

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
• IUP HC Tom McConnell has not lost to Clarion in his three previous years, going 6-0 with an average scoring margin of +18.7
• The Crimson Hawks are on a two-game losing streak, and have not dropped three or more games in consecutive tries since losing four in a row during the 2013-14 season, McConnell's first with the Crimson Hawks (Bloomsburg, Mercyhurst, Gannon, California)
• IUP is 5-2 away from home this season, but has a perfect 5-0 in true road games; Those two losses came in the season opening tournament at Shippensburg against Bowie State and UVA-Wise
• Clarion is 5-4 at Tippin this season, but is just 0-2 at home against PSAC West teams, losing to Mercyhurst (67-59) and Seton Hill (92-75)
• The Golden Eagles are not afraid to let it fly from beyond the arc, ranking first in the PSAC with 9.4 made three-pointers per game; The IUP defense ranks second in the league, giving up just 3.6 per game

CRIMSON HAWKS ARE 18-5 IN THE MONTH OF JANUARY SINCE 2015
Even with their back-to-back losses to Edinboro and California, the Crimson Hawks are still 18-5 (.783) in the month of Janurary 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, and have a 4-2 record this month. 

CRIMSON HAWKS OWN 5-0 RECORD IN TRUE ROAD GAMES THIS YEAR
The Crimson Hawks have had success on the road this year, going 5-0 with a scoring margin of +18.2. IUP boasts a key road win, defeating Mercyhurst 64-54 back on January 9. Five Crimson Hawks are scoring in double-figures on the road, led by Jr. F Megan Smith (Blain, Pa./West Perry) at 17.2 points per game. 

THE IUP DEFENSE AGAIN ONE OF THE BEST IN THE PSAC, DIVISION II IN SEVERAL CATEGORIES
The Crimson Hawks' defense has been a force this year, as IUP leads the PSAC in points allowed (55.3), opponents' field goal percentage (35.5), and blocked shots per game (5.81). Those also rank near the top nationally, with scoring defense seventh, blocked shots eighth, and defensive field goal percentage 18th.

MEGAN SMITH HAS BEEN HEATING UP OVER THE LAST FIVE GAMES
IUP's most consistent offensive threat this season, Jr. F Megan Smith (Blain, Pa./West Perry) has turned it up over the last five games. Despite a down performance against No. 6 California, Smith is averaging 17.2 points and 5.8 rebounds while shooting 50.0 percent (32-64) from the field and 80.0 percent (16-20) from the foul line. She set a career-high with 31 points at Slippery Rock on Jan. 6, and tallied her first double-double of the season with 23 points and 11 rebounds against Edinboro. 

A TOP SHOT BLOCKER, BRITTANY ROBINSON ALSO PROVIDES OFFENSIVE FIRE POWER
So. F Brittany Robinson (Harrisburg, Pa. /Central Dauphin East) ranks second in the PSAC and is tied for 37th in Division II with 1.9 blocked shots per game. Posting at least one block in 12 of 16 games, she has top performances of seven (vs. Shippensburg) and six (at Millersville) swats on the year. Robinson has added proven scoring ability to her game, hitting double-figures four times in the last six games, averaging 13.5 points while shooting 61.1 percent (33-54) during that span. She posted her first career double-double against Cal, scoring 14 points with a career-high 14 rebounds. 

HALLE DENMAN RANKS 3RD IN THE PSAC, 25TH IN DIVISION II IN 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 third in the PSAC with 43 steals and an average of 2.9 steals per game. Denman has at least one steal in each of the last 15 games, swiping 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.